Abstract / Description of output
Endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF) causes vasorelaxation and may contribute to the release of the endogenous fibrinolytic factor, tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA). Rotigaptide enhances communication via the connexin 43 gap junction subunit and may potentiate the vascular actions of EDHF. The aims of the present study were therefore to determine whether rotigaptide influences basal and stimulated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and t-PA release in vivo in man. Using venous occlusion plethysmography, forearm blood flow was measured in 27 healthy volunteers during intra-brachial infusions of rotigaptide (0.25-25 nmol/min) alone, or co-administered with endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine [5-20 microg/min] and bradykinin [30-300 pmol/min]) and independent (sodium nitroprusside [2-8 microg/min]) vasodilators in the presence or absence of aspirin and the 'nitric oxide clamp'. The 'nitric oxide clamp' inhibits endogenous nitric oxide synthesis with L-N-monomethylarginine and restores resting blood flow with the exogenous nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside. Basal blood flow was unaffected by rotigaptide (P=NS). Acetylcholine, bradykinin and sodium nitroprusside all caused dose-dependent vasodilatation in the presence and absence of aspirin and the 'nitric oxide clamp' (P<or =0.005 for all). These responses were unaffected by rotigaptide (P=NS). Bradykinin caused t-PA antigen and activity release (P=0.04, P
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1194-200 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Biochemical Pharmacology |
Volume | 76 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2008 |