Advances in research on the role of nitric oxide in regulating sleep and arousal

Nitric oxide (NO) is widely present in peripheral and central nervous system and regulates many physiological functions. Sleep-arousal is an advanced physiological activity. Studies have shown that NO is involved in the regulation of sleep and arousal. Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the production of NO from L-arginine. Through guanylate cyclase or S-nitrosation of protein, NO can affect the activity of the ascending reticular activating system to regulate the sleep-arousal process. This paper summarizes the production of NO, its effect on sleep-arousal and its mechanism in the ascending reticular activating system, and provides new ideas and directions for the study of sleep and arousal.