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Effect of sildenafil on reperfusion function, infarct size, and cyclic nucleotide levels in the isolated rat heart model

du Toit EF, Rossouw E, Salie R, Opie LH, Lochner A

Cardiovascular drugs and therapy, 2005

Abstract

UNLABELLED: We have previously shown that NO-donor induced elevation in myocardial cGMP levels is associated with improved reperfusion function of the isolated rat heart. The phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor, sildenafil could potentially increase myocardial cGMP levels and thus protect the heart against ischaemic/reperfusion injury.

METHODS: To test our hypothesis we treated the isolated working rat heart with vehicle, OR sildenafil (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 nM), OR sildenafil (50 nM) plus a sarcolemmal (HMR 1098) or a mitochondrial (5-Hydroxydecanoate (5-HD)) K(ATP) channel blocker. Hearts were then subjected to 20 min global, or 35 min regional ischaemia at 37( composite function)C before reperfusion function (aortic output, coronary flow and aortic pressure) and infarct size were documented. Pre-ischaemic, ischaemic and reperfusion myocardial cAMP and cGMP concentrations were determined.

RESULTS: Low concentrations of sildenafil (10, 20 and 50 nM) improved reperfusion aortic output (AO) recovery (61.4+/- 4.5%, 64.8 +/- 5.2% and 62.3 +/- 5.0% vs. 45.4 +/- 3.8% for controls (p < 0.05)) and infarct size, while high concentrations (200 nM) worsened AO recovery (24.9 +/- 4.9.0%, p < 0.05). Myocardial cGMP levels of ischaemic tissue were elevated (34.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 27.3 +/- 2.2 pmol/g ww) and cAMP levels were suppressed (0.59 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.06 nmol/g ww) in the sildenafil (50 nM) treated hearts. Co-perfusion with sildenafil plus HMR 1098 decreased AO recovery (21.7 +/-…

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