British journal of pharmacology
-
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are beneficial in pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure, the two conditions associated with coronary heart disease and ischaemia. We investigated whether sildenafil counteracts the cardiovascular alterations induced by N -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the rat. ⋯ In a rat model of chronic nitric oxide deprivation, where hypertension and aggravation of post-ischaemic ventricular dysfunction are associated with loss of vascular endothelium-relaxant function, sildenafil provided significant cardiovascular protection, primarily by maintaining tissue cGMP levels.
-
In circulatory shock, melanocortins have life-saving effects likely to be mediated by MC4 receptors. To gain direct insight into the role of melanocortin MC4 receptors in haemorrhagic shock, we investigated the effects of two novel selective MC4 receptor agonists. ⋯ Stimulation of MC4 receptors reversed haemorrhagic shock, reduced multiple organ damage and improved survival. Our findings suggest that selective MC4 receptor agonists could have a protective role against multiple organ failure following circulatory shock.