Bioactivation of nitroglycerin (GTN) into an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is essential for the vasorelaxant effect of the drug. Besides several enzymes that catalyze GTN bioactivation, the reaction with cysteine is the sole nonenzymatic mechanism known so far. Here we show that a reaction with ascorbate results in GTN bioactivation. In the absence of ascorbate, GTN did not affec...

BACKGROUND Topical application of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment heals chronic anal fissures, providing an alternative to the traditional first line treatment of surgical sphincterotomy. AIMS To determine the most effective dose of topical GTN for treatment of chronic anal fissures and to assess long term results. METHODS Seventy consecutive patients with chronic anal fissure, were rand...

Background: Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is a commonly prescribed treatment for acute heart failure patients. However, prolonged GTN treatment induces tolerance, largely due to increased oxidative stress and reduced aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) expression. Serelaxin has several vasoprotective properties, which include reducing oxidative stress and augmenting endothelial function. We therefore...

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) describes a heterogeneous group of interrelated lesions that arise from abnormal proliferation of placental trophoblasts. GTN lesions are histologically distinct, malignant lesions that include invasive hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). GTN tumors are generally highly...

Nitroglycerin (glycerol trinitrate [GTN]), an explosive and vasodilatory compound, was metabolized by mixed microbial cultures from aeration tank sludge previously exposed to GTN. Aerobic enrichment cultures removed GTN rapidly in the absence of a supplemental carbon source. Complete denitration of GTN, provided as the sole C and N source, was observed in aerobic batch cultures and proceeded st...

A current hypothesis states that tolerance to nitroglycerin (GTN) involves increased formation of superoxide (O2*-). Studies showing that inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) prevent tolerance to GTN suggest the involvement of PKC activation, which can also increase O2*-. We examined the roles of O2*-, peroxynitrite (ONOO-), and PKC activation in GTN tolerance. Pre-exposure of rat aortic rings ...