Increased cGMP improves microvascular exercise training adaptations independent of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Impaired microvascular function is a hallmark of pre-diabetes. With development of atherosclerosis this impaired microvascular function can result in diminished capacity for ambulation and is a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. Dynamic changes in vascular tone are determined, in large part, by the eNOS/NO/cGMP axis. We used gain of function of the eNOS/NO/cGMP axis in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and reduced function in lean mice to test the hypothesis that functionality of this vascular control mechanism parallels the benefits of an exercise training regimen. DIO mice have lower exercise capacity than lean mice and were used for pharmacological gain of function. The PDE-5a inhibitor - sildenafil - increases cGMP and was administered to DIO mice daily. In sedentary mice, we find that sildenafil does not improve exercise capacity. In contrast, it amplifies the microcirculatory effects of exercise training. Sildenafil synergizes with exercise training to improve performance during an incremental exercise test. Improved exercise performance was accompanied by increased skeletal muscle capillary flow velocity and capillary density measured via intravital microscopy. Loss of function was tested in lean mice hemizygous for endothelial cell (EC) specific eNOS creating an EC-eNOS knockdown (KD). EC-eNOS KD decreases capillary density and exercise tolerance in sedentary mice; however, it did not prevent exercise-training induced improvements in endurance capacity. These data show that 1) increasing cGMP with sildenafil enhances microcirculatory function and exercise work tolerance that results from training; 2) eNOS KD does not prevent the microcirculatory or improvements in exercise tolerance with training. PDE-5a inhibitors combined with physical exercise are a potential mechanism for improving ambulation in patients with circulatory limitations.