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.