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1 Institute for Cardiovascular Research VU University Medical Center Amsterdam
2 VU University Medical Center
3 VU medical center
4 VU Medical Center
5 Institute for Cardiovascular Research
6 VU University Medical Center Amsterdam
7 Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: K.Mouchaers{at}vumc.nl.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is often treated with endothelin (ET) receptor blockade or phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibition. Little is known about the specific effects on right ventricular function and metabolism. We determined the effects of single and combination treatment with Bosentan (ETa-b receptor blocker) and Sildenafil (PDE5 inhibitor) on RV function and oxidative metabolism in monocrotaline (MCT) induced PAH. Fourteen days after MCT injection, male Wistar rats were orally treated for ten days with Bosentan, Sildenafil, or both.. Right ventricular (RV) catheterization and echocardiography showed that MCT clearly induced PAH. This was evidenced by increased RV systolic pressure, reduced cardiac output, increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and reduced RV fractional shortening. Quantitative histochemistry showed marked RV hypertrophy and fibrosis. Mono-treatment with Bosentan or Sildenafil had no effect on RV systolic pressure or cardiac function, but RV fibrosis reduced and RV capillarization increased. Combination treatment did not reduce RV systolic pressure, but significantly lowered PVR, and normalized cardiac output, RV fractional shortening and fibrosis. Only combination treatment increased the RV's mitochondrial capacity, reflected by increased succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase activities, associated with an activation of PKG as indicated by increased VASP phosphorylation. Moreover, significant interactions were found between Bosentan and Sildenafil on pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac output, RV contractility, PKG activity, and mitochondrial capacity. These data indicate that the combination of Bosentan and Sildenafil may beneficially contribute to RV adaptation in PAH, not only by reducing PVR, but also by acting on the mitochondria in the heart.
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