Pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the soluble guanylyl cyclase activator, BAY 60-2770, are not dependent on endogenous nitric oxide or reduced heme

4-({(4-Carboxybutyl)2-(5-fluoro-2-{4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-4-yl]methoxy}phenyl)ethyl]amino}methyl)benzoic acid (BAY 60-2770) is a nitric oxide (NO)-independent activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) that increases the catalytic activity of the heme-oxidized or heme-free form of the enzyme. In this study, responses to intravenous injections of the sGC activator BAY 60-2770 were investigated under baseline and elevated tone conditions induced by the thromboxane mimic U-46619 when NO synthesis was inhibited by N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), when sGC activity was inhibited by 1H-1,2,4]-oxadizaolo4,3]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), an agent that oxidizes sGC, and in animals with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. The intravenous injections of BAY 60-2770 under baseline conditions caused small decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, larger decreases in systemic arterial pressure, and no change or small increases in cardiac output. Under elevated tone conditions during infusion of U-46619, intravenous injections of BAY 60-2770 caused larger decreases in pulmonary arterial pressure, smaller decreases in systemic arterial pressure, and increases in cardiac output. Pulmonary vasodilator responses to BAY 60-2770 were enhanced by L-NAME or by ODQ in a dose that attenuated responses to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside. ODQ had no significant effect on baseline pressures and attenuated pulmonary and systemic vasodilator responses to the sGC stimulator BAY 41-8543 2-{1-2-(fluorophenyl)methyl]-1H-pyrazolo3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl}-5(4-morpholinyl)-4,6-pyrimidinediamine. BAY 60-2770 and sodium nitroprusside decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in monocrotaline-treated rats in a nonselective manner. The present data show that BAY 60-2770 has vasodilator activity in the pulmonary and systemic vascular beds that is enhanced by ODQ and NOS inhibition, suggesting that the heme-oxidized form of sGC can be activated in vivo in an NO-independent manner to promote vasodilation. These results show that BAY 60-2770 and sodium nitroprusside decreased pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in monocrotaline-treated rats, suggesting that BAY 60-2770 does not have selective pulmonary vasodilator activity in animals with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.