TY - JOUR
T1 - The ups and downs of Rho-kinase and penile erection
T2 - Upstream regulators and downstream substrates of Rho-kinase and their potential role in the erectile response
AU - Chitaley, K.
AU - Webb, C.
AU - Mills, T. M.
PY - 2003/4
Y1 - 2003/4
N2 - In the absence of arousal stimuli, the activity of the Rho-kinase-mediated signaling pathway promotes vasoconstriction of the cavernosal arterioles and sinuses, keeping the penis in the nonerect state. Upon sexual arousal or during nocturnal tumescence, nitric oxide (NO), released from nonadrenergic/noncholinergic nerves or from local endothelial cells, induces cavernosal vasodilation, resulting in an elevation in blood flow and intracavernosal pressure to initiate the erectile response. Although NO is thought to be the principal stimulator of penile erection, the signaling mechanism(s) of NO-mediated cavernosal vasodilation is unknown. In this article, we will consider the novel hypothesis that NO induces penile erection through the inhibition of endogenous Rho-kinase-mediated vasoconstriction. Additionally, we will look downstream of Rho-kinase, introducing a potential role for various substrates in the mechanism of Rho-kinase-mediated constriction in the cavernosal vasculature.
AB - In the absence of arousal stimuli, the activity of the Rho-kinase-mediated signaling pathway promotes vasoconstriction of the cavernosal arterioles and sinuses, keeping the penis in the nonerect state. Upon sexual arousal or during nocturnal tumescence, nitric oxide (NO), released from nonadrenergic/noncholinergic nerves or from local endothelial cells, induces cavernosal vasodilation, resulting in an elevation in blood flow and intracavernosal pressure to initiate the erectile response. Although NO is thought to be the principal stimulator of penile erection, the signaling mechanism(s) of NO-mediated cavernosal vasodilation is unknown. In this article, we will consider the novel hypothesis that NO induces penile erection through the inhibition of endogenous Rho-kinase-mediated vasoconstriction. Additionally, we will look downstream of Rho-kinase, introducing a potential role for various substrates in the mechanism of Rho-kinase-mediated constriction in the cavernosal vasculature.
KW - Cavernosum
KW - Erectile dysfunction
KW - Smooth muscle
KW - Vasoconstriction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037562883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037562883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900964
DO - 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900964
M3 - Article
C2 - 12789389
AN - SCOPUS:0037562883
SN - 0955-9930
VL - 15
SP - 105
EP - 109
JO - International journal of impotence research
JF - International journal of impotence research
IS - 2
ER -