Therapeutics: Endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3; eNOS)

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest promoting NOS3 activity with Viagra sildenafil could help prevent preeclampsia. In patient placental tissue samples or vascular endothelium from a mouse model of preeclampsia, markers of NOS3 activity were lower than in samples from healthy volunteers or mice with normal pregnancies. Also in the mouse model, Viagra decreased uterine vascular resistance, hypertension and angiotensin II sensitivity - a marker of preeclampsia - in the dam and increased birth weight in the offspring compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing further safety and efficacy of Viagra in pregnant mice...