| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Rodrigues, Fernanda Luciano
;
Fais, Rafael S.
;
Pereira, Marlia G. A. G.
;
Garcia-Cairasco, Norberto
;
Tostes, Rita C.
;
Carneiro, Fernando S.
Total Authors: 6
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | UROLOGY; v. 106, AUG 2017. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 0 |
| Abstract | |
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that naive Wistar audiogenic rats (WARs) display erectile dysfunction (ED), which is associated with increased sympathetic-mediated contractile tone and decreased nitric oxide-mediated relaxation responses of the cavernous tissue. METHODS Changes in the ratio of the maximal intracavernosal pressure-mean arterial pressure after the electrical stimulation of the right major pelvic ganglion were determined in vivo. Cavernosal contractility was induced by electrical field stimulation and phenylephrine. In addition, nonadrenergic-noncholinergic (NANC)-induced relaxation was determined. Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway proteins, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein expression, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activities were determined by Western blot. RESULTS WARs display a significant decrease in maximal intracavernosal pressure-mean arterial pressure responses suggesting ED in this strain. Sympathetic-mediated contractile responses were increased in WARs and contractile responses to phenylephrine were not changed. The increased sympathetic-mediated contractile responses were not associated with changes in the ROCK pathway. On the other hand, NANC-mediated relaxation responses were significantly reduced in WARs. This functional response was accompanied by decreased nNOS and total eNOS protein expressions, augmented phosphorylated eNOS, and decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation levels. CONCLUSION Our data have demonstrated that naive WARs display ED in vivo that is associated with increased sympathetic-mediated contractile responses and decreased NANC-mediated relaxation responses. The increase in contractile responses is independent of the ROCK pathway, and the changes in relaxation responses are associated with a decrease in nNOS protein expression, which may activate compensatory mechanisms in the cavernous tissue. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/17362-4 - Mechanisms of erectile dysfunction on heart failure |
| Grantee: | Fernando Silva Carneiro |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/21976-1 - Cardiovascular autonomic control in toll-like receptor 9 knockout mice with hypertension induced by angiotensin II. |
| Grantee: | Fernanda Luciano Rodrigues |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |
| FAPESP's process: | 05/56447-7 - Research through images from high field magnetic resonance aimed at studies in humans |
| Grantee: | João Pereira Leite |
| Support Opportunities: | Inter-institutional Cooperation in Support of Brain Research (CINAPCE) - Thematic Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/11988-5 - NLRP3 contribution to the pro-inflammatory effect of ET-1 in corpora cavernosa smooth muscle cells: relevance in erectile function. |
| Grantee: | Fernando Silva Carneiro |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |