Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in the body by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes from the amino acid L-arginine. NO acts as both an intracellular and extracellular signaling molecule and is involved in many physiological processes like neurotransmission and smooth muscle relaxation. There are three isoforms of NOS - neuronal NOS, inducible NOS, and endothelial NOS. NO stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase which increases cyclic GMP levels and triggers smooth muscle relaxation. In addition to cGMP signaling, NO can also signal through S-nitrosylation of proteins or by forming nitrite and nitrate storage pools.