The Beneficial Impact of Fasudil and Sildenafil on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats: A Hemodynamic and Biochemical Study

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still cannot be cured effectively, hence the search for novel treatments continues. The effects of sildenafil (25 mg/kg body weight) and fasudil (30 mg/kg body weight) given alone or in combination, on normalization of right ventricular pressure (RVP), right ventricle mass, as well as the levels of several biomarkers (HDL-C, BNP, VEGF-A), were assessed in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. MCT (60 mg/kg body weight) induced clear PAH in male Wistar rats. After 21 days, a significant decrease in RVP accompanied by a reduction of right ventricular hypertrophy - a significant decrease in the right ventricle/left ventricle plus septum ratio - as a result of sildenafil or fasudil administration was assessed. The administration of fasudil and sildenafil alone or in combination caused a significant decrease in plasma BNP level as compared to MCT-treated rats. Fasudil alone or with sildenafil, but not sildenafil alone, significantly increased HDL-C level as compared to MCT-treated rats. Fasudil and sildenafil given alone or in combination caused a significant increase in plasma VEGF-A level as compared to rats exposed to MCT.