Nitrates and angina pectoris. Discussion

This review discusses the mechanisms of action of the organic nitrates, nitrate tolerance, and the effects of nitrates in patients with stable angina pectoris. The nitrates are prodrugs thant enter the vascular smooth muscle, where they are denitrated to form the active agent nitric oxide (NO). NO activates gyanylate cyclase, which results in cyclic guanosine monophosphate cyclase, which results in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production and vasodilation as a result of reuptake of calcium by the sarcoplasmic reticulum