Viagra Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Viagra, including details on sildenafil, erectile dysfunction, impotence, side-effects, alternatives.

Sildenafil induces angiogenic response in human coronary arteriolar endothelial cells through the expression of thioredoxin, hemeoxygenase and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Vidavalur R, Penumathsa SV, Zhan L, Thirunavukkarasu M, Maulik N

Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-1110, USA.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, sildenafil, on angiogenic response in human coronary arteriolar endothelial cells (HCAEC). The cells exposed to sildenafil (1-20 muM) demonstrated significantly accelerated tubular morphogenesis with the induction of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and VEGF. Sildenafil induced VEGF and angiopoietin specific receptors such as KDR, Tie-1 and Tie-2. This angiogenic response was repressed by tinprotoporphyrin IX (SnPP), an inhibitor of HO-1 enzyme activity. Sildenafil below 1 muM has no angiogenic effect as evidenced by reduced tuborogenesis. Sildenafil along with SnPP inhibited both VEGF and Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) protein expression. Therefore our results demonstrated for the first time that sildenafil is a very potent pro-angiogenic factor.

Published 23 May 2006 in Vascul Pharmacol.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Viagra Research Today. All Rights Reserved.