To clarify the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) derived from nitrosothiols (RSNO) in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced Ca(2+)-independent cGMP formation (CIGF) in NG108-15 cells, we investigated the effects of 5-HT on intracellular contents of RSNO as well as of NO metabolites. 5-HT stimulation resulted in an increase in the intracellular contents of nitrate and cGMP. RSNO was detected in NG108-15 cells and was decreased by 5-HT stimulation. Furthermore, the time course of nitrate increase was coincident with that of RSNO decrease. CarboxyPTIO inhibited 5-HT-induced CIGF, whereas oxyhemoglobin failed to inhibit it. The data suggest that NO is stored in a stable form as RSNO and that 5-HT stimulates NO generation from endogenous RSNO, which is followed by elevation of cGMP via activation of cytosolic guanylyl cyclase by NO in NG108-15 cells. We suggest the existence of a novel 5-HT signal transduction pathway involved in NO generation in NG108-15 cells.