title: Intravenously administered phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors dilate retinal blood vessels in rats.
abstract: In the present study, we examined effects of intravenously administered inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (rolipram and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro-20-1724)) and non-selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (theophylline) on diameter of retinal blood vessel and fundus (retinal/choroidal) blood flow in rats. Male Wistar rats (8- to 10-week-old) were treated with tetrodotoxin (50 microg/kg, i.v.) to eliminate any nerve activity and prevent the eye movement under artificial ventilation. Methoxamine was used to maintain adequate systemic circulation. Ocular fundus images were captured with an original high-resolution digital fundus camera for small animals. Diameters of retinal blood vessels contained in the digital images were measured using image-processing softwares on a personal computer. Fundus blood flow was measured using a laser Doppler flow meter. Both rolipram (0.01-10 microg/kg/min, i.v.) and Ro-20-1724 (0.01-10 microg/kg/min, i.v.) increased diameters of retinal blood vessels in a dose-dependent manner without significant effect on systemic blood pressure, heart rate and fundus blood flow. The effects of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors on retinal arterioles were greater than those on retinal venules. Similarly, theophylline (0.1-10 mg/kg/min, i.v.) dilated retinal blood vessels, whereas it decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate markedly. These results suggest that phosphodiesterase 4 contributes to maintenance of retinal vascular tone. Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 could be considered as a candidate for therapeutic drugs to treat diseases associated with disorders of retinal circulation without severe cardiovascular side-effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Asami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000242:Cyclic AMP