The dynamic nitric oxide pattern in developing cuttlefish Sepia officinalis.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is implied in many important biological processes in all metazoans from porifera to chordates. In the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis NO plays a key role in the defense system and neurotransmission.

Results: Here, we detected for the first time NO, NO synthase (NOS) and transcript levels during the development of S.