title: Prevention of vascular nitroglycerin tolerance by inhibition of protein kinase C.
abstract: We investigated whether in vivo inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) can prevent the development of vascular tolerance and restore the sensitivity of isolated vessels to nitroglycerin (NTG). Tolerance was induced in male Wistar rats by a constant i.v. infusion of NTG 1 mg kg-1 h-1, a dose which did not alter blood pressure. After 72 h, the aorta was removed and the sensitivity of aortic rings to NTG tested. Chronic NTG infusion resulted in a 5.5 fold decrease in NTG-sensitivity as compared with controls (vehicle), indicating the development of vascular tolerance. The simultaneous in vivo administration of the specific PKC inhibitor N-benzoyl-staurosporine (30 mg kg-1 day-1) prevented this decrease in NTG sensitivity. These results suggest a role for PKC activation in the development of vascular NTG tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Preclinical Research Department, Ciba-Geigy Ltd., Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zierhut
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D005996:Nitroglycerin