Key result
L-cysteine and N-acetylcysteine boost nitroglycerin-induced coronary microvessel relaxation to ~85% versus nitroglycerin alone.
Why the study?
Previous studies showed nitroglycerin's effect on coronary microvessels <100 microns is enhanced by L-cysteine, but mechanisms were unclear.
Population
Coronary microvessels >200 microns and <100 microns diameter constricted by endothelin-1
Comparison
Nitroglycerin with L-cysteine or N-acetylcysteine vs nitroglycerin alone
Design
Preclinical mechanistic study
Authors
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Hypothesis-generating for thiol donors augmenting nitroglycerin in microvessels; leaves open human translation pending clinical studies.
Absolute Event Rate: 84% vs 23%
L-cysteine and N-acetylcysteine enhance nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation in small coronary microvessels by increasing intracellular glutathione concentrations.
Wheatley et al. (1994) studied this question. L-cysteine and N-acetylcysteine with nitroglycerin vs. Nitroglycerin alone was evaluated on Peak relaxation of small (< 100 microns diam) coronary microvessels. L-cysteine and N-acetylcysteine markedly enhanced nitroglycerin-induced relaxations of small coronary microvessels (peak relaxation 84% and 87% vs 23% under control conditions).
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