In order to detect the concentration of nitric oxide, known to be one of the biologically active principles of certain cardiovascular compounds, a highly selective polarographic/amperometric device was used. The nitric oxide-releasing properties of sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerine, nicorandil, and the molsidomine metabolite, 3-morpholinosydnonimine, were compared in the following cell-free experimental solutions in vitro: in Krebs-Henseleit solution with and without a sulfhydryl donor, L-cysteine, in an acidic, reducing medium, and in Krebs-Henseleit solution with superoxide dismutase enzyme. Sodium nitroprusside released similar concentrations of nitric oxide in Krebs-Henseleit solution and in the acidic, reducing medium. L-Cysteine inhibited the release of nitric oxide at physiological pH. In the presence of nitroglycerine, nitric oxide signals were detected in the acidic, reducing environment and in L-cysteine-rich Krebs-Henseleit solution but not in the absence of the sulfhydryl donor. Amperometric signals could not be detected after adding nicorandil in all the experimental conditions used. 3-Morpholinosydnonimine released nitric oxide only in the presence of the superoxide dismutase enzyme. Our results suggest that the polarographic electrode is able to detect the release of nitric oxide from sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerine, and 3-morpholinosydnonimine in the absence of biological material. The present observations support the importance of the chemical environment during the detection of nitric oxide from donor compounds in the common in vitro bathing systems.