Abstract: As an important messenger molecule, NO exists in both peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Recently NO was proved to play a critical role in CNS, especially in synaptic plasticity. As a kind of retrograde messenger, it plays some roles in the induction and maintenance of LTP through activation of downstream pathway or molecules, such as NO-cGMP-PKG, ADPRT and C-FOS.

Key words: retrograde messenger, NO, LTP, signal transduction