An investigation of the effects of zaprinast, a PDE inhibitor, on the nitrergic control of the urethra in anaesthetized female rats

The effects of L ‐NAME and zaprinast were investigated (i.v.) on reflex‐evoked changes in bladder and urethral pressures in urethane‐anaesthetized female rats.L ‐NAME attenuated reflex‐evoked urethral relaxations (65±10%), while zaprinast potentiated these responses (68±24%). L ‐NAME and zaprinast also increased baseline urethral pressure and urethral striated muscle (EUS‐EMG) activity. These drugs had little effect on the bladder. Following pre‐treatment with α‐bungarotoxin (i.v.) to block urethral striated muscle, L ‐NAME and zaprinast failed to increase baseline urethral pressure. Further zaprinast failed to alter the size of reflex‐evoked urethral relaxations. Intra‐urethral zaprinast caused a significant increase while sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and isoprenaline caused decreases in urethral pressure (+14±3%, −25±5%, −29±7%, respectively). These changes were associated with increases in EUS‐EMG activity. After chlorisondamine (i.v.), zaprinast caused a significant fall in urethral pressure, while the decrease in urethral pressure caused by SNP and isoprenaline was potentiated. No changes in EUS‐EMG activity occurred. These results indicate that a nitrergic pathway mediates reflex‐evoked urethral smooth muscle relaxations. The data also indicates that there is a background release of NO, which reduces sphincter skeletal muscle activity. Further, the ability of zaprinast to potentiate nitrergic evoked urethral relaxations involves an increase in striated muscle tone. This appears to be an indirect result of smooth muscle relaxation and is mediated, at least in part, by a chlorisondamine‐sensitive mechanism.British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 136 , 399–414; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704735