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Asked by: Chahinaz Zenischev
healthy living mens healthIs caffeine a phosphodiesterase inhibitor?
In this regard, what does a phosphodiesterase inhibitor do?
A phosphodiesterase inhibitor is a drug that blocks one or more of the five subtypes of the enzyme phosphodiesterase (PDE), thereby preventing the inactivation of the intracellular second messengers cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by the respective PDE subtype(s).
Also, what happens when phosphodiesterase is inhibited?
Cyclic-AMP is broken down by an enzyme called cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase (PDE). Inhibition of this enzyme prevents cAMP breakdown and thereby increases its intracellular concentration. This increases cardiac inotropy, chronotropy and dromotropy.
Adenosine thus facilitates sleep and dilates the blood vessels, probably to ensure good oxygenation during sleep. Caffeine acts as an adenosine-receptor antagonist. This means that it binds to these same receptors, but without reducing neural activity.