Effects of the donor of nitric oxide, dinitrosyl iron complex with glutathione, on blood circulation in healthy animals

We have found that the hypotensive effect of the nitric oxide donor dinitrosyl iron complex with glutathione was caused by a decrease in general peripheral resistance in healthy rats. This effect did not impair microcirculation and was accompanied by an increase in the myocardial contractile activity. Under the hypotension condition induced by dinitrosyl iron complex with glutathione, we did not find any changes in the oxygen or carbon dioxide tensions in the blood as compared to the control or any change in the acidic-basic blood state. Thus, the possible inhibitory influence of this complex on some enzymes and proteins in the animal body was not accompanied by effects on the heart, vessels, or blood. The dinitrosyl iron complex with glutathione induced a decrease in the arterial pressure only. We hypothesize that a new type of drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases can be developed on the basis of such complexes and complexes with other thiol-containing ligands.