He is known affectionately as Dr. NO because of his scientific research into Nitric Oxide (NO) which earned him the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1998.  We noted that achievement at the time in an issue of The Italic Way; but I am prompted to write about Dr. Louis Ignarro today after listening to this remarkable man on a podcast recently.  Our Chicago associate Frank Di Piero, whose independent podcast (Keepin’ It Real) managed to locate and interview Dr. Ignarro two weeks ago.  You can listen to the episode with the link below to verify what a treasure this medical genius is.

Because of Dr. Ignarro’s decades of research, and that of a handful of other scientists, nitric oxide is being recognized as a key compound for our well-being.  Not to be confused with Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) “laughing gas,” nitric oxide is a gas produced naturally in the body to enhance our blood circulation by keeping blood vessels open and clear.  Dr. Ignarro shared the Nobel Prize with two other scientists (now passed) who helped unlock the secrets of the gas.  But it was Ignarro who pieced together the bulk of the puzzle that led to the ‘miracle’ of Viagra, which targets blood vessels to the penis.

That puzzle began with Nitroglycerin, the pill that angina sufferers place under their tongues to prevent a heart attack.  How was an otherwise explosive compound able to save lives?  Nitrogen was the clue that researchers pursued which ultimately led to Nitric Oxide.

Here’s a bit of serendipity:  Nitroglycerin was invented by Italian scientist Ascanio Sobrero in 1847, who expressed guilt for it after the explosive killed and maimed hundreds of demolition workers.  It was Alfred Nobel who tamed the compound creating the safer form he called ‘dynamite.’  Dynamite made Nobel rich, and he eventually established the Nobel Prize.  Italian American Louis Ignarro was a Nitro recipient – a full circle!

But that’s not the end of the Italic connection.  When Pfizer developed Viagra it was meant for cardiac patients.  Dr. John LaMattina, head of Pfizer’s research, monitored the field tests.  One day a nurse reported that when she stopped at bedsides many male patients were lying on their stomachs embarrassed by unintended erections.  LaMattina realized he now had the treatment for Erectile Dysfunction!

Once Viagra hit the streets, Dr. Donato Borrillo of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that pilots using the drug were temporarily color blind – a potentially dangerous condition for flying.  In 1999, he issued a directive prohibiting Viagra use by cockpit crews within six hours of flying.  Flying, it seems, is thrilling enough without an erection!

For those of you with a scientific bent and want to know the details of the Nitric Oxide discoveries, click on the podcast, Body of Wonder, below.  What you will find is an interview of 83-year-old Ignarro by two medical doctors.  It is a phenomenal display of scientific genius explained in clear, concise English by a man who only mastered the tongue by 5th grade.  You’ll learn how Nitric Oxide works and what possibilities further research might have for longevity and better health.  In the meantime, Dr. Ignarro prescribes a good diet and exercise to unlock your inner NO.

In the Keepin’ It Real podcast, Dr. Ignarro reveals his backstory, the son of a Neapolitan father and Sicilian mother both of whom had little education.  He recounts how he struggled with English but retained his Italian values and commitment to wholesome foods.  Surprisingly, he learned of his Nobel Prize while visiting the University of Naples, near his father’s hometown.  Although his father had passed, his mother was able to attend the awards ceremony in Stockholm.

Among the Italian Americans who might be beholding to Dr. Ignarro are actors Al Pacino (83) and Robert DeNiro (81).  DeNiro just produced his 7th offspring and Pacino his 4th, both with vastly younger women. 

These blessed events may have Nitric Oxide as the ‘prime mover.’ -JLM

Body of Wonder – The Role of Nitric Oxide in the Body with Dr. Louis Ignarro – YouTube

Episode 136 – Interview with Dr. Lou Ignarro awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998 | Italian American Life with Frankie D