Effect of sildenafil on ventricular arrhythmias in post-infarcted rat hearts

Tsung-Ming Lee, Chien Chang Chen, Tun Hui Chung, Nen Chung Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have demonstrated that activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP) channels can attenuate sympathetic hyperinnervation. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, has been shown to provide a preconditioning-like cardioprotective effect via opening of KATP channels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic administration of sildenafil attenuates cardiac sympathetic hyperinnervation after myocardial infarction through activation of KATP channels and to compare it with the nitric oxide donor isosorbide dinitrate. Male Wistar infarcted rats induced by ligation of the anterior descending artery were randomized to either vehicle, nicorandil, sildenafil, isosorbide dinitrate, glibenclamide, or a combination of nicorandil and glibenclamide, or sildenafil and glibenclamide. Myocardial norepinephrine levels revealed a significant elevation in vehicle-treated rats compared with sham-operated rats, consistent with sympathetic hyperinnervation after infarction assessed by immunohistochemical analysis for tyrosine hydroxylase, growth associated factor 43 and neurofilament and by protein expression and mRNA of nerve growth factor. Sympathetic hyperinnervation was reduced after administering either nicorandil or sildenafil. Arrhythmic scores during programmed stimulation in the sildenafil-treated rats were significantly lower than those treated with the vehicle. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of sildenafil-induced were reversed by the addition of either glibenclamide or 5-hydroxydecanoate, implicating mitochondrial KATP channels as the relevant target. Isosorbide dinitrate failed to confer similar antiarrhythmia. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3- α]quinoxalin-1-one, a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, did not influence the effect of sildenafil on the nerve growth factor. These data indicate that sildenafil after infarction attenuated sympathetic hyperinnervation and arrhythmias by activation of mitochondrial KATP channels through a guanylyl cyclase-cGMP-independent pathway.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)124-132
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology
Volume690
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 5 2012

Keywords

  • ATP-sensitive potassium channels
  • Arrhythmia
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Nerve growth factor
  • Norepinephrine
  • Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of sildenafil on ventricular arrhythmias in post-infarcted rat hearts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this