Anti-aggregating effect of BAY 58-2667, an activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), BAY 58-2667, inhibits platelet aggregation and to clarify its mechanism of action. Blood was collected from anesthetized WKY rats. The aggregation of washed platelet was measured and the production of cAMP and cGMP was determined. BAY 58-2667 produced a partial inhibition of the ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but did not significantly affect thrombin-induced aggregation. In ADP-induced platelet aggregation, the inhibitory effects of BAY 58-2667 were associated with an increased level of both cGMP and cAMP while that of the prostacyclin analogue, beraprost, was correlated only with an increase in cAMP. The inhibitor of sGC, ODQ, enhanced the effects of BAY 58-2667. The presence of L-nitroarginine, an inhibitor of NO-synthase, hydroxocobalamin, a scavenger of NO, or that of three different NO-donors did not affect the anti-aggregating effect of BAY 58-2667. However, the anti-aggregating effects of beraprost were potentiated by BAY 58-2667. Therefore, the platelet inhibitory effects of BAY 58-2667 are associated with the generation of cGMP and a secondary increase in cAMP, both being totally NO-independent. When the sGC is oxidized, BAY 58-2667 becomes a relevant anti-aggregating agent, which synergizes with the cAMP-dependent pathway.