Wang H, Li W, Yan Y, Shi MJ, Hou F, Zhang RP. Sildenafil improves hemodynamic changes caused by acute pulmonary embolism by inhibiting Rho kinase activity.
J Int Med Res 2024;
52:3000605241240938. [PMID:
38603613 PMCID:
PMC11010764 DOI:
10.1177/03000605241240938]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of sildenafil on acute pulmonary embolism (APE) using a rat model.
METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham, pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and sildenafil groups. The sham and PTE groups received normal saline once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days, whereas the sildenafil group received sildenafil (0.5 mg/kg/day) once daily via gavage for 14 consecutive days. Autologous emboli were prepared from blood samples collected from the left femoral artery of rats in each group on day 13, and autologous emboli were injected into the jugular vein cannula of rats in the PTE and sildenafil groups on day 14. Sham-treated rats received the same volume of saline. Right systolic ventricular pressure (RVSP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) were used to assess pulmonary embolism, and western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect relevant markers.
RESULTS
The Rho kinase signaling pathway was significantly activated in rats with APE, and sildenafil significantly inhibited this activation.
CONCLUSIONS
Sildenafil protected against APE through inhibiting Rho kinase activity, thereby reducing pulmonary vasoconstriction and decreasing elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. These findings might provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
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