Role of cGMP and cAMP in the hemodynamic response to intrathecal sildenafil administration.

INTRODUCTION: Results from our laboratory have demonstrated that intracerebroventricular administration of sildenafil to conscious rats promoted a noticeable increase in both lumbar sympathetic activity and heart rate, with no change in the mean arterial pressure. The intracerebroventricular administration of sildenafil may have produced the hemodynamic effects by activating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the supraspinal regions and spinal cord. It is well documented that sildenafil increases intracellular cGMP levels by inhibiting phosphodiesterase type 5 and increases cAMP levels by inhibiting other phosphodiesterases. OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare, in conscious rats, the hemodynamic response following the intrathecal administration of sildenafil, 8-bromo-cGMP (an analog of cGMP), forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase), or dibutyryl-cAMP (an analog of cAMP) in order to elucidate the possible role of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the observed hemodynamic response. RESULTS: The hemodynamic responses observed following intrathecal administration of the studied drugs demonstrated the following: 1) sildenafil increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent manner, 2) increasing doses of 8-bromo-cGMP did not alter the mean arterial pressure and heart rate, 3) forskolin did not affect the mean arterial pressure but did increase the heart rate and 4) dibutyryl-cAMP increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate, similar to the effect observed following the intrathecal injection of the highest dose of sildenafil. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings of the current study suggest that the cardiovascular response following the intrathecal administration of sildenafil to conscious rats involves the inhibition of phosphodiesterases other than phosphodiesterase type 5 that increase the cAMP level and the activation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons.

Role of cGMP and cAMP in the hemodynamic response to intrathecal sildenafil administration

INTRODUCTION: Results from our laboratory have demonstrated that intracerebroventricular administration of sildenafil to conscious rats promoted a noticeable increase in both lumbar sympathetic activity and heart rate, with no change in the mean arterial pressure. The intracerebroventricular administration of sildenafil may have produced the hemodynamic effects by activating sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the supraspinal regions and spinal cord. It is well documented that sildenafil increases intracellular cGMP levels by inhibiting phosphodiesterase type 5 and increases cAMP levels by inhibiting other phosphodiesterases. OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare, in conscious rats, the hemodynamic response following the intrathecal administration of sildenafil, 8-bromo-cGMP (an analog of cGMP), forskolin (an activator of adenylate cyclase), or dibutyryl-cAMP (an analog of cAMP) in order to elucidate the possible role of the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the observed hemodynamic response. RESULTS: The hemodynamic responses observed following intrathecal administration of the studied drugs demonstrated the following: 1) sildenafil increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent manner, 2) increasing doses of 8-bromo-cGMP did not alter the mean arterial pressure and heart rate, 3) forskolin did not affect the mean arterial pressure but did increase the heart rate and 4) dibutyryl-cAMP increased the mean arterial pressure and heart rate, similar to the effect observed following the intrathecal injection of the highest dose of sildenafil. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings of the current study suggest that the cardiovascular response following the intrathecal administration of sildenafil to conscious rats involves the inhibition of phosphodiesterases other than phosphodiesterase type 5 that increase the cAMP level and the activation of sympathetic preganglionic neurons.

Efecto del extracto acuoso de hojas de Bauhinia megalandra sobre la glucogenólisis hepática en ratas / Effect of aqueous extract of leaves of Bauhinia megalandra glucogenólisis on the liver in rats

El extracto acuoso de las hojas de Bauhinia megalandra ha sido muy empleado en Venezuela en el tratamiento empírico de la diabetes mellitus. En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto del extracto acuoso de B. megalandra sobre la glucogenolísis hepática estimulada por adrenalina o dibutiril AMPc. La administración oral del extracto de la planta, a ratas alimentadas, disminuyó de una manera estadísticamente significativa el incremento de la glicemia promovido por la adrenalina. De igual manera, rebanadas de hígado de ratas alimentadas incubadas en presencia del extracto de B. megalandra produjeron menos glucosa en respuesta a la adrenalina o al dibutiril AMPc que los controles. Estos resultados indican una disminución de la glucogenolísis hepática por efecto del extracto acuoso de hojas de B. megalandra, probablemente por inhibición de la enzima glucosa-6-fosfatasa.

Opposite nociceptive effects of the arginine/NO/cGMP pathway stimulation in dermal and subcutaneous tissues.

1. Nitric oxide has been described either as pronociceptive or antinociceptive. In this investigation, using an electronic pressure-metre, the intradermal and the subcutaneous effects of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and agents that mimic or inhibit the arginine/NO/cGMP pathway were compared. 2. The hypernociceptive effect of the intradermal injection of PGE(2) (100 ng) was immediate, peaking within 15-30 min and returning to basal values in 45-60 min. The subcutaneous injection of PGE(2) induced a hypernociception with a delayed peak (3 h) plateauing for 4-6 h. 3. Intradermal administration of 3-morpholino-sydnonimine-hydrochloride (SIN-1) enhanced, while its subcutaneous administration inhibited, subcutaneous hypernociception induced by PGE(2). This inhibition was prevented by ODQ (8 micro g) but not by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (50 micro g). 4. Intradermal but not subcutaneous administration of L-arginine (1-100 micro g), SIN-1 (1-100 micro g) and dibutyrylguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (db cGMP) (0.1-100 micro g) induced an early (15-30 min) dose-dependent hypernociceptive effect. Intradermal pretreatment with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 50 micro g) inhibited the hypernociception induced by L-Arg (10 micro g), but not that induced by SIN-1 (10 micro g) or db cGMP (10 micro g). 5. Intradermal injection of ODQ (8 micro g) antagonized the hypernociception induced by L-arginine and SIN-1, but not that induced by db cGMP. 6. Considering (a) the different time course of intradermal and subcutaneous PGE(2)-induced hypernociception, (b) the opposite nociceptive effect of intradermal and subcutaneous administration of SIN-1 (db cGMP) as well as the arginine/NO/cGMP pathway, the existence of different subsets of nociceptive primary sensory neurons in which the arginine/NO/cGMP pathway plays opposing roles is suggested. This hypothesis would explain the apparent contradictory observations described in the literature.

Intraventricular injection of agents that enhance cyclic adenosine monophosphate formation leads to inhibition of proestrous luteinizing hormone surge in rats.

The effect of increasing hypothalamic levels of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovulation was studied in cycling rats. Animals hearing chronically implanted guiding cannulae into the third ventricle were injected with agents known to enhance the cellular levels of cAMP. Hourly blood samples from the unanesthetized, unrestrained rats were obtained between 11.00 and 17.00 h through a plastic cannula inserted into the jugular vein. Intraventricular injections of serotonin (7.5 mg/ml; 2 microliters) in the morning of proestrous blocked the preovulatory surge of LH and ovulation. This effect was assigned to an increased neuronal level of cAMP because it was prevented by a serum anti-cAMP. Third-ventricle injections of 2 microliters of forskolin (0.5 mmol/l), guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)(2 mmol/l) or dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mmol/l) at 11.00 h on the day of proestrus mimicked the inhibitory effect of serotonin on the proestrous release of LH. It is suggested that serotonin inhibits LH surge by acting directly on LH-releasing hormone neurons and/or on neurons that provide inputs to these neurons involving cAMP as a second messenger. Neurons releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may serve as interneurons sensitive to serotonin, as well as to cAMP, inasmuch as the inhibitory effect of forskolin on the release of LH was partially blocked by the GABA antagonists, picrotoxin and bicuculline.