Abstract
The effects of sildenafil (Viagra®), a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5, on ischemic myocardium was examined using an isolated rat heart model. Rats were pretreated with sildenafil at doses ranging from 0.001 mg to 0.5 mg/kg body weight. After 60 min, isolated hearts were subjected to ischemia for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The results demonstrated that at 0.05 mg/kg (and to some extent at 0.01 mg/kg), sildenafil provided significant cardioprotection as evidenced by improved ventricular recovery, a reduced incidence of ventricular fibrillation and decreased myocardial infarction. At higher doses, it caused a significant increase in the incidence of ventricular fibrillation while at very low doses it had no effect on cardiac function. As expected, sildenafil increased cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) content in the heart. The results demonstrate for the first time that within a narrow dose range, sildenafil can protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury, probably through a cGMP-signaling pathway.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 213-219 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Drugs under Experimental and Clinical Research |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 6 |
State | Published - 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery
- Pharmacology (medical)