Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) Practice Exam

Nitroprusside primarily interacts with nitric oxide receptors, which is significant for its mechanism of action as a vasodilator. When nitroprusside is administered, it releases nitric oxide, a potent endogenous vasodilator. This nitric oxide binds to and stimulates the guanylate cyclase enzyme associated with its receptors. This stimulation increases levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) within vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to relaxation and subsequent vasodilation.

This interaction is pivotal in the management of acute hypertension and heart failure, as it effectively decreases systemic vascular resistance and lowers blood pressure. Understanding this mechanism is essential for clinicians, enabling them to use nitroprusside effectively in patient care settings where rapid blood pressure control is necessary. The other receptor types listed do not directly mediate the effects of nitroprusside, as they are involved in different pathways and responses in the cardiovascular system.