Viagra: Difference between revisions
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Viagra is the trademark name for the drug [[Sildenafil|sildenafil]], which was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction in males | Viagra is the trademark name for the drug [[Sildenafil|sildenafil]], which was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction in males<ref>Francis, Sharron H., Corbin, Jackie D. (2005). Sildenafil: efficacy, safety, tolerability and mechanism of action in treating erectile dysfunction. Expert opinion on drug metabolism and toxicology. 1 (2), p283-293.</ref>. Initially, it was widely used to relieve the symptoms of [[Angina|angina]]. The [[Molecular formula|molecular formula]] for Viagra is C<sub>22</sub>H<sub>30</sub>N<sub>6</sub>O<sub>4</sub>S and the elimination [[Half life|half-life]] is approximately 3 to 4 hours. | ||
=== Mechanism of action === | === Mechanism of action === | ||
[[Acetylcholine|Acetylcholine]] is released by nerves in the walls of penile [[Blood vessels|blood vessels which]] causes [[Nitric oxide|nitric oxide]] (NO) to be released by [[Endothelial cells|endothelial cells]] in the vessel lining. NO binds to the enzyme [[Guanylyl cyclase|guanylyl cyclase]] in the [[Smooth_muscle_cells|smooth muscle cells]] of the [[Blood vessel|blood vessel]] which catalyses the production of [[CGMP|cyclic GMP]] (cGMP) from [[GTP|GTP]]. The smooth muscle cells respond to this by relaxing which allows the blood vessel to dilate. | |||
[[CGMP|cGMP]] is quickly degraded by [[CGMP phosphodiesterase|cGMP phosphodiesterase]]. This enzyme hydrolyses cGMP to [[GMP|GMP]]. Viagra works to [[Competitive inhibitors|competitively inhibit]] [[CGMP phosphodiesterase|cGMP phosphodiesterase]] so that [[Intracellular|intracellular]] levels of cGMP remain high, meaning penile blood vessels are dilated for a longer period of time<ref>Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p888-889.</ref>. | [[CGMP|cGMP]] is quickly degraded by [[CGMP phosphodiesterase|cGMP phosphodiesterase]]. This enzyme hydrolyses cGMP to [[GMP|GMP]]. Viagra works to [[Competitive inhibitors|competitively inhibit]] [[CGMP phosphodiesterase|cGMP phosphodiesterase]] so that [[Intracellular|intracellular]] levels of cGMP remain high, meaning penile blood vessels are dilated for a longer period of time<ref>Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p888-889.</ref>. | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 19:05, 15 November 2018
Viagra is the trademark name for the drug sildenafil, which was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction in males[1]. Initially, it was widely used to relieve the symptoms of angina. The molecular formula for Viagra is C22H30N6O4S and the elimination half-life is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Mechanism of action
Acetylcholine is released by nerves in the walls of penile blood vessels which causes nitric oxide (NO) to be released by endothelial cells in the vessel lining. NO binds to the enzyme guanylyl cyclase in the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessel which catalyses the production of cyclic GMP (cGMP) from GTP. The smooth muscle cells respond to this by relaxing which allows the blood vessel to dilate.
cGMP is quickly degraded by cGMP phosphodiesterase. This enzyme hydrolyses cGMP to GMP. Viagra works to competitively inhibit cGMP phosphodiesterase so that intracellular levels of cGMP remain high, meaning penile blood vessels are dilated for a longer period of time[2].
References
- ↑ Francis, Sharron H., Corbin, Jackie D. (2005). Sildenafil: efficacy, safety, tolerability and mechanism of action in treating erectile dysfunction. Expert opinion on drug metabolism and toxicology. 1 (2), p283-293.
- ↑ Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., Walter, P (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science. p888-889.