BQ-788 (3 mg/kg/h, i.v.) completely inhibits a pharmacological dose of ET-1- or sarafotoxin6c (0.5 nmol/kg, i.v.)-induced ETB receptor-mediated depressor, but not pressor responses in conscious rats. Furthermore, BQ-788 markedly increases the plasma concentration of ET-1, which is considered an index of potential ETB receptor blockade in vivo. In Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (DS) rats, BQ-788 (3 mg/kg/h, i.v.) increases blood pressure by about 20 mm Hg. It is reported that BQ-788 also inhibits ET-1-induced bronchoconstriction, tumor growth and lipopolysaccharide-induced organfailure[1]. BQ 788 (3 mg/kg) results in an eightfold leftward shift in the ET-1 dose-response curve, suggesting a significant involvement of ETB dilator receptors[2]. Mice are treated with 30 nmol BQ-788 by intraplantar, reduce mechanical hyperalgesia (47% and 42%), thermal hyperalgesia (68% and 76%), oedema (50% and 30%); myeloperoxidase activity (64% and 32%), and overt-pain like behaviours. Additionally, intraplantar treatment with clazosentan or BQ-788 decreases spinal (45% and 41%) and peripheral (47% and 47%) superoxide anion production as well as spinal (47% and 47%) and peripheral (33% and 54%) lipid peroxidation, respectively[3].
