Effects of a New Cardiotonic Phosphodiesterase III Inhibitor, Olprinone, on Cardiohemodynamics and Plasma Hormones in Conscious Pigs with Heart Failure

We examined the effects of a novel phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, olprinone, on the cardiohemodynamics and plasma hormones in conscious pigs with pacing-induced heart failure. After pacing for 5-10 days, cardiac output (CO) decreased from 2.25 +/- 0.17 to 1.67 +/- 0.13 L/min (n = 8, p < 0.01) and stroke volume (SV) decreased from 20.1 +/- 2.1 to 12.0 +/- 1.6 ml (n = 8, p < 0.01), whereas left arterial pressure (LAP) increased from 2.8 +/- 1.2 to 16.7 -/+ 0.9 mm Hg (n = 7, p < 0.001) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) increased from 38.7 +/- 3.5 to 49.8 +/- 4.2 mm Hg/L/min (n = 8, p < 0.01). Sequential intravenous infusions of 0.03, 0.3, and 3.0 microg/kg/min of olprinone at 30-min intervals to eight pigs caused dose-dependent increases in the decreased CO, SV, and maximal rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dt(max)) and decreased the elevated LAP and SVR. Olprinone at 3.0 microg/kg/min maximally increased CO, SV, and LV dP/dt(max) by 40.0 +/- 10.8% (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle), 25.6 +/- 6.9% (p < 0.05), and 43.9 +/- 11.2% (p < 0.01), respectively, and brought about a slight increase in heart rate and decreases in LAP and SVR, by 35.9 +/- 7.3% (p < 0.001) and 27.9 +/- 4.8% (p < 0.01), respectively. Olprinone did not affect the rate-pressure product. In addition, olprinone produced significant decreases in the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, with no changes in the plasma levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and catecholamines or plasma renin activity. These findings indicate that the short-term intravenous infusions of olprinone ameliorated the decreased left ventricular function without affecting myocardial oxygen consumption or the sympathetic nervous system in conscious pigs with heart failure.