Vasodilating properties of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, nitroflurbiprofen, on rat aortic rings

The effects of nitroflurbiprofen (NFP), a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug containing a nitroxybutyl moiety, on rat aortic rings were compared with those of flurbiprofen (FP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). NFP and GTN relaxed, in a dose-dependent manner, either intact or rubbed aortic rings precontracted with epinephrine. Pretreatment with FP did not influence the relaxant activity of NFP in both endothelium-intact and -denuded arteries. In unrubbed preparations, FP did not affect contraction induced by epinephrine, while in rubbed ones a moderate relaxation was observed. Methylene blue and oxyhaemoglobin completely reversed the vasodilating effect of NFP in both rubbed and unrubbed preparations. Moreover, the addition of cysteine 5 mmol l(-1) at the end of the cumulative application of NFP resulted in a further relaxation of aortic rings. These results indicate that NFP possesses vasodilatory activity which appears to be dependent on the release of nitric oxide or nitric oxide derivatives. (C) 1996 The Italian Pharmacological Society.