The effect of SK&F 95654, a novel phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on cardiovascular, respiratory and platelet function

1. SK&F 95654 inhibited the guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP)-inhibited phosphodiesterase (cGI-PDE) with an IC50 value of 0.7 microM. The IC50 values were greater than 100 microM for the other four phosphodiesterase isoenzymes tested. The R-enantiomer of SK&F 95654 (IC50 = 0.35 microM) was a more potent inhibitor of cGI-PDE than was the S-enantiomer (IC50 = 5.3 microM). 2. In the guinea-pig working heart, SK&F 95654 produced a positive inotropic response without altering heart rate. 3. Oral administration of SK&F 95654 to conscious dogs caused dose-dependent increases in left ventricular dp/dtmax in the range 10-50 micrograms kg-1. These positive inotropic responses were maintained for 3 h without simultaneous changes in heart rate or blood pressure. The peak effects on left ventricular dp/dtmax were similar for orally and intravenously administered compound, indicating good oral bioavailability. 4. SK&F 95654 caused a potent inhibition of U46619-induced aggregation in both a human washed platelet suspension (WPS) (IC50 = 70 nM) and in human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) (IC50 = 60 nM), indicating that the compound shows negligible plasma binding. 5. The R-enantiomer of SK&F 95654 was twenty fold more potent as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation than was the S-enantiomer. The similarity of this ratio to that obtained on the cGI-PDE suggests that SK&F 95654 inhibits platelet aggregation via its effects on cGI-PDE. This was also indicated by studies which showed that SK&F 95654 increased adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels and activated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in human platelets. 6. Collagen-induced aggregation of rat PRP was also inhibited by SK&F 95654 (ICso = 65 nM). The effects of SK&F 95654, administered intravenously, on ex vivo platelet aggregation were studied in the conscious rat. At 1 mg kg-', SK&F 95654 inhibited aggregation for at least 4 h post dose and was more potent than the two other cGI-PDE inhibitors studied (siguazodan and SK&F 94120).7. In contrast to its potent effects on heart and platelets, SK&F 95654 caused only a modest relaxation of histamine- or U46619-induced bronchoconstriction in the anaesthetized, ventilated guinea-pig.8. Taken together, these results indicate that SK&F 95654 may be a suitable agent for the treatment of congestive heart failure.