Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Standardized Rat Coronary Ring Preparation and Real-Time Recording of Dynamic Tension Changes Along Vessel Diameter
Published on: June 16, 2022
Tirofiban increases soluble guanylate cyclase in rat vascular walls: pharmacological and pathophysiological
María P Ruiz-Torres1, Mercedes Griera, Aránzazu Chamorro
1Physiology Department, Universidad de Alcala, Campus Universitario s/n, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain. mpiedad.ruiz@uah.es
Aims:
Our aim was to evaluate whether tirofiban, which mimics the structure of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides, up-regulates soluble guanylate cyclase beta1 subunit (sGC-beta1) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and in aorta from rats, and to investigate the pharmacological and pathophysiological consequences of this up-regulation.
Methods And Results:
Wistar, Wistar Kyoto, and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used. sGC-beta1 content was assessed by immunoblotting. Arterial pressure was recorded using a tail-cuff sphygmomanometer. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and isosorbide dinitrate (IDN) were used as nitric oxide (NO) donors. Tirofiban increased the sGC-beta1 content in VSMCs and in aortic walls from rats after 6 h of treatment. Rats treated with tirofiban experienced a more pronounced decrease in their arterial pressure after acute SNP treatment than vehicle-treated rats. Isolated rat aortic rings incubated with tirofiban showed a higher relaxing response to SNP than control rings as well as an increased sGC-beta1 content and SNP-induced cyclic guanosine monophosphate synthesis. Animals receiving IDN for 1 week showed decreased sGC-beta1 in aortic walls and did not respond to SNP treatment with changes in arterial pressure. Tirofiban restored the decreased sGC-beta1 content in IDN-treated rats and promoted a decreased arterial pressure in response to SNP administration. SHRs showed reduced sGC-beta1 levels, and tirofiban increased these levels and led to a higher response to SNP.
Conclusion:
Tirofiban increased the sGC-beta1 content in contractile cells and aortic walls of rats, enhancing the response to SNP and reversing the NO donor tachyphylaxis.
Related Concept Videos
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Of...

