The Sound of Evolution
Tadalafil
Mechanism of action:
Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Phosphodiesterase type 5 is the enzyme responsible for degrading cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and is especially abundant in the corpus cavernosum and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle. Tadalafil selectively inhibits this enzyme, thereby reducing cGMP degradation. cGMP activates protein kinase G, which lowers intracellular calcium ion levels, relaxes cavernosal and vascular smooth muscle, and increases blood flow.
Reference(s):
1. Forgue ST et al. (2006). Tadalafil pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol.
2. Andersson KE et al. (2018). PDE5 inhibitors - pharmacology and clinical applications 20 years after sildenafil discovery. Br J Pharmacol.
3. Arif SA et al. (2011). Tadalafil: a long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Clin Ther.