An improved chemiluminescence assay suggests non nitric oxide-mediated action of lysophosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine.

Using a new nitric oxide analyser, we have developed a sensitive chemiluminescence assay to detect trace quantities of NO in aqueous solutions. This improved technique in combination with the bioassay has been employed to verify the theory that NO released by vascular endothelium, accounts for the relaxation produced by acetylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine and calcium ionophore A23187. Our results show that while calcium ionophore A23187 continuously released NO, acetylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine relaxed vascular strips without releasing NO over the basal level.