TY - JOUR
T1 - Improved erectile function after Rho-kinase inhibition in a rat castrate model of erectile dysfunction
AU - Wingard, Christopher J.
AU - Johnson, John A.
AU - Holmes, Andre
AU - Prikosh, Anita
PY - 2003/6/1
Y1 - 2003/6/1
N2 - Androgens are reported to act as strong modulators of erectile function influencing both nitric oxide and vasoconstrictor signaling. Castration results in a depressed erectile response that is associated with a loss of nitric oxide production and increased responsiveness to constrictive agents. The increased vasoconstrictor response may be a result of an active RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway. We report here results of studies designed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of the Rho-kinase pathway restores erectile function in a castrate model by relaxing the smooth muscle. Mean arterial (MAP) and corpus cavernosal (CCP) pressures were monitored during intracavernosal injection of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632. Castration reduced the maximal erectile response (CCP/MAP) by 33%, and testosterone replacement restored the response (intact, 0.736 ± 0.040; castrate, 0.492 ± 0.022; testosterone, 0.681 ± 0.073). Injection of Y-27632 increased CCP in all experimental groups; it also left shifted the voltage response curve and increased the maximal CCP/MAP response (intact, 0.753 ± 0.091; castrate, 0.782 ± 0.081; testosterone treated, 0.894 ± 0.033). Y-27632 dose dependently relaxed phenylephrinestimulated cavernosal tissues. Cavernosal tissues showed increased RhoA and Rho-kinase protein levels after castration. Our data support the hypothesis that an active Rho/Rho-kinase pathway contributes to the reduced erectile response after castration due to an upregulation of RhoA/Rho-kinase protein levels and that inhibition of this pathway may serve as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.
AB - Androgens are reported to act as strong modulators of erectile function influencing both nitric oxide and vasoconstrictor signaling. Castration results in a depressed erectile response that is associated with a loss of nitric oxide production and increased responsiveness to constrictive agents. The increased vasoconstrictor response may be a result of an active RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway. We report here results of studies designed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of the Rho-kinase pathway restores erectile function in a castrate model by relaxing the smooth muscle. Mean arterial (MAP) and corpus cavernosal (CCP) pressures were monitored during intracavernosal injection of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632. Castration reduced the maximal erectile response (CCP/MAP) by 33%, and testosterone replacement restored the response (intact, 0.736 ± 0.040; castrate, 0.492 ± 0.022; testosterone, 0.681 ± 0.073). Injection of Y-27632 increased CCP in all experimental groups; it also left shifted the voltage response curve and increased the maximal CCP/MAP response (intact, 0.753 ± 0.091; castrate, 0.782 ± 0.081; testosterone treated, 0.894 ± 0.033). Y-27632 dose dependently relaxed phenylephrinestimulated cavernosal tissues. Cavernosal tissues showed increased RhoA and Rho-kinase protein levels after castration. Our data support the hypothesis that an active Rho/Rho-kinase pathway contributes to the reduced erectile response after castration due to an upregulation of RhoA/Rho-kinase protein levels and that inhibition of this pathway may serve as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.
KW - Corpus cavernosum
KW - Phenylephrine
KW - RhoA
KW - Smooth muscle contraction
KW - Testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0013198310&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0013198310&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/ajpregu.00041.2003
DO - 10.1152/ajpregu.00041.2003
M3 - Article
C2 - 12573976
AN - SCOPUS:0013198310
SN - 0363-6119
VL - 284
SP - R1572-R1579
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
IS - 6 53-6
ER -