Effect of cGMP-dependent protein kinase G inhibitor (D)-DT-2 on the lipopolysaccharide-induced hyporesponsiveness of rat vascular ring

Objective To investigate the effect of specific cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor (D)-DT-2 on the contractile function of rat vascular rings after being exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods The experiment was performed in 2 parts.Part Ⅰ:The Sprague-Dawley rat thoracic aortic rings were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =5 each):KH group,DT-2 group and (D)-DT-2 group.KH,DT-2 and (D)-DT-2 were added to the aortic ring after being dilated with 8-Br-cGMP 50 μmol/L for 25 min and the changes in tension of vascular rings were measured.Part Ⅱ:The rat thoracic aortic rings were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =5 each):control group,LPS group,LPS-DT2 group and LPS-(D)-DT2 group.After being incubated with LPS for 3 h in vitro.The Emax and EC50 were compared among the 4 groups.Results Part Ⅰ:Both DT-2 and (D)-DT-2 could contract the vascular rings dilated with 8-Br-cGMP and the Emax was significantly higher in (D)-DT-2 group than DT-2 group (P ＜0.05).Part Ⅱ]:Both DT-2 and (D)-DT-2 significantly improved the contractile function of vascular ring after being exposed to LPS.Emax was significantly higher,while EC50 was lower in groups DT-2 and (D)-DT-2 than in LPS group (P ＜0.01).Emax was significantly increased,while EC50 was decreased in LPS-(D)-DT-2 group as compared with LPS-DT-2 group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PKG inhibitor can improve the contractile function of the vascular rings incubated with LPS and the efficacy of (D)-DT-2 is better than DT-2 in recovering the vascular reactivity. Key words: cGMP-dependent protein kinase G inhibitor;  Lipopolysaccharide;  Thoracic aortic rings