Activation of GPER ameliorates experimental pulmonary hypertension in male rats

Publication date: 15 January 2017
Source:European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 97
Author(s): Allan K. Alencar, Guilherme C. Montes, Tadeu Montagnoli, Ananssa M. Silva, Sabrina T. Martinez, Aline G. Fraga, Hao Wang, Leanne Groban, Roberto T. Sudo, Gisele Zapata-Sudo
RationalePulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling that leads to pulmonary congestion, uncompensated right-ventricle (RV) failure, and premature death. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is cardioprotective in male rats and that its activation elicits vascular relaxation in rats of either sex.ObjectivesTo study the effects of GPER on the cardiopulmonary system by the administration of its selective agonist G1 in male rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH.MethodsRats received a single intraperitoneal injection of MCT (60mg/kg) for PH induction. Experimental groups were as follows: control, MCT+vehicle, and MCT+G1 (400μg/kg/daysubcutaneous). Animals (n=5pergroup) were treated with vehicle or G1 for 14days after disease onset.Measurements and Main ResultsActivation of GPER attenuated exercise intolerance and reduced RV overload in PH rats. Rats with PH exhibited echocardiographic alterations, such as reduced pulmonary flow, RV hypertrophy, and left-ventricle dysfunction, by the end of protocol. G1 treatment reversed these PH-related abnormalities of cardiopulmonary function and structure, in part by promoting pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, Ca²⁺ handling regulation and reduction of inflammation in cardiomyocytes, and a decrease of collagen deposition by acting in pulmonary and cardiac fibroblasts.ConclusionsG1 was effective to reverse PH-induced RV dysfunction and exercise intolerance in male rats, a finding that have important implications for ongoing clinical evaluation of new cardioprotective and vasodilator drugs for the treatment of the disease.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2fT4zIz