title: The lazaroid, U-74389G, inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, reverses vascular failure and protects against endotoxin shock.
abstract: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of the 21-aminosteroid U-74389G [21- < 4-(2,6-di-1-pyrrolidinyl-4-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl-pregna-1,4,9,(11) triene-3,20-dione(z)-2-butenedionate] on the l-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) pathway in a rat model of endotoxin shock. Endotoxin shock was produced in male rats by a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of 20 mg/kg of Salmonella Enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats were treated with U-74389G (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg i.v.) or vehicle (1 ml/kg i.v.) 5 min after endotoxin challenge. Lipopolysaccharide administration reduced survival rate (0%, 72 h after endotoxin administration) decreased mean arterial blood pressure, enhanced plasma concentration of bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase and increased plasma nitrite concentrations. Lipopolysaccharide injection also increased the activity of inducible NO synthase in the liver and in the aorta. Furthermore aortic rings from shocked rats showed a marked hyporeactivity to phenylephrine (1 nM-10 microM). In addition lipopolysaccharide (50 microg/ml for 4 h) in vitro stimulation significantly increased nitrite production in peritoneal macrophages harvested from normal rats. Treatment with U-74389G (15 and 30 mg/kg i.v., 5 min after endotoxin challenge) significantly protected against lipopolysaccharide-induced lethality (90% survival rate 24 h and 80% 72 h after lipopolysaccharide injection, respectively, following the highest dose of the drug), reduced hypotension, ameliorated liver function, decreased plasma nitrite levels, restored the hyporeactivity of aortic rings to their control values and inhibited the activity of inducible NO synthase in the liver and in the aorta. Finally, U-74389G in vitro (12.5, 25 and 50 microM) significantly inhibited nitrite production in endotoxin stimulated peritoneal macrophages. The data suggest that U-74389G may exert beneficial effects in an experimental model of septic shock by inhibiting the activity of the inducible NO synthase.
authors: Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Altavilla
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Squadrito
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Campo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Squadrito
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Arlotta
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Urna
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sardella
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Quartarone
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Saitta
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Caputi
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011281:Pregnatrienes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009573:Nitrites; D011281:Pregnatrienes; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C074965:U 74389F; D010656:Phenylephrine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin