Daily treatment with sildenafil, an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase, normalizes the exaggerated hemodynamic response to norepinephrine in fructose-fed rats

Abstract

Background Enhanced responsiveness of the vascular smooth muscle cell to vasoconstrictor stimuli has been described in insulin-resistant states. Fructose overload leads to the development of the metabolic syndrome and its associated cardiovascular disorders including hypertension. We postulated that chronic treatment with sildenafil would regulate the abnormally increased pressor response to a norepinephrine challenge in fructose-fed rats. Material and methods Wistar rats were fed a standard chow (CONT, n = 12) or a 60% fructose-enriched diet containing 5% fat (% by weight) for 8 weeks (FFR, n = 12). From week 5 through 8, sildenafil (twice a day sc, 20 mg/kg) was administered (FFR+SIL, n = 14), thus reaching clinically relevant plasma concentrations circa 20 nM unbound (Pfizer Inc., data on file), followed by a 1-week wash-out period (W9). On W9, in a sub-group of these conscious rats (n = 5) that had previously been implanted with telemetric devices, AP was recorded following cumulative infusion of noradrenaline (NA 50, 100, 200, 400 ng/kg/min). In all rats, urinary 8-isoprostane (IPT) and TxB2 levels were determined during a 24-hour period. Tissue ET-1 content was measured in segments of aortic and mesenteric artery. Results Fasting glycemia was unchanged in all rats while triglyceridemia were elevated in FFR compared to CONT (2.0 ± 0.4 mM vs 1.2 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) and corrected by sildenafil treatment (1.3 ± 0.2, NS vs CONT). Resting AP was similar in all rats. Pressor responses to NA were exacerbated in FFR (maximal increase from basal MAP: +22.8 ± 1.7 vs +38.0 ± 7.3 mmHg, respectively, p < 0.05) and normalized by sildenafil treatment (+24.9 ± 5.2 mmHg, NS vs CONT). Vascular ET-1 levels were not modified by the fructose nor sildenafil treatment whereas the increased production of urinary IPT and TxB2 in FFR versus CONT (2.07 ± 0.36 ng/ml/24 h vs 0.88 ± 0.13 and 12.86 ± 1.91 pg/ml/24 h vs 7.25 ± 0.59, respectively, p < 0.05) were corrected following sildenafil treatment (0.95 ± 0.14 ng/ ml/24 h and 8.74 ± 1.06 pg/ml/24 h, respectively, NS vs CONT).