The overall objective of our research is the delineation of the determinants of nitrovasodilator action and tolerance. Several nitrovasodilators (e.g. nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, sodium nitroprusside) are important therapeutic agents for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. These agents are safe and effective, but many members of its class (viz: the organic nitrates) produce rapid pharmacologic tolerance. The mechanisms of nitrate tolerance are not completely understood, but may involve a reduction in the ability of the vascular smooth muscle cells to produced nitric oxide (NO). This putative intracellular messenger has also been identified as the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), which plays a critical physiological role in regulating vasodilation. Because of the common link of NO generation, mechanisms that govern nitrovasodilator tolerance might overlap with processes that control the endogenous release and action of EDRF. In this application, we propose a series of integrated and fundamental mechanistic studies to define both the biochemical and pharmacokinetic determinants of nitrovasodilator action and tolerance. These studies are important for advancing our knowledge on nitrovasodilators so that their use in cardiovascular therapy may be further improved. Our studies may also shed light on the potential interactions between EDRF and nitrovasodilators, thus enhancing our understanding fo the complex factors that govern the physiology and pharmacology of vasodilatation.
Our specific aims are (1) to develop a sensitive analytical method for NO assay in biological samples using a commercially available chemiluminescence detector, (2) to indentify the subcellular site (s) and conditions which govern the metabolic activation of organic nitrates in vascular smooth muscle cells, (3) to re- examine the """"""""sulfhydryl depletion"""""""" hypothesis of nitrate tolerance in detail, (4) to examine the mechanism(s) of action of sodium nitroprusside and its cross-tolerance properities with orther nitrovasodilators, (5) to examine the effects and mechanism(s) of intermittent drug delivery on the tolerance characteristics of nitrovasodilators, and (6) to determine the relationships between the systemic kinetics of several isomeric organic mononitrates and their pharmacologic properties of hypotension and tolerance (e.g. the rates of tolerance development, persistence and reversal). Isolated blood vessel preparations and intact animals (rats) will be used in these studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37HL022273-14
Application #
3485775
Study Section
Toxicology Subcommittee 2 (TOX)
Project Start
1978-04-01
Project End
1993-06-30
Budget Start
1991-07-01
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University of New York at Buffalo
Department
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
038633251
City
Buffalo
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14260
Fung, Ho-Leung (2004) Biochemical mechanism of nitroglycerin action and tolerance: is this old mystery solved? Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 44:67-85
Wang, Ellen Q; Balthasar, Joseph P; Fung, Ho-Leung (2004) Pharmacodynamics of in vivo nitroglycerin tolerance in normal conscious rats: effects of dose and dosing protocol. Pharm Res 21:114-20
Khanna, Ashish; Rossman, Jon; Caty, Michael G et al. (2003) Beneficial effects of intraluminal nitroglycerin in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. J Surg Res 114:15-24
Lee, Woo In; Fung, Ho Leung (2003) Mechanism-based partial inactivation of glutathione S-transferases by nitroglycerin: tyrosine nitration vs sulfhydryl oxidation. Nitric Oxide 8:103-10
Lee, Woo-In; Xu, Ye; Fung, Sun-Mi et al. (2003) eNOS-dependent vascular interaction between nitric oxide and calcitonin gene-related peptide in mice: gender selectivity and effects on blood aggregation. Regul Pept 110:115-22
Wang, Ellen Q; Lee, Woo-In; Brazeau, Daniel et al. (2002) cDNA microarray analysis of vascular gene expression after nitric oxide donor infusions in rats: implications for nitrate tolerance mechanisms. AAPS PharmSci 4:E10
Wang, Ellen Q; Fung, Ho-Leung (2002) Effects of obesity on the pharmacodynamics of nitroglycerin in conscious rats. AAPS PharmSci 4:E28
Maurer, T; Fung, H L (2000) Comparison of methods for analyzing kinetic data from mechanism-based enzyme inactivation: application to nitric oxide synthase. AAPS PharmSci 2:E8
Maurer, T S; Fung, H L (2000) Evaluation of nitric oxide synthase activity and inhibition kinetics by chemiluminescence. Nitric Oxide 4:372-8
Tseng, C M; Tabrizi-Fard, M A; Fung, H L (2000) Differential sensitivity among nitric oxide donors toward ODQ-mediated inhibition of vascular relaxation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 292:737-42

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