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The effects of dopamine receptor agonists on BKCa channels and signal transduction mechanism in corpus cavernosal smooth muscle cells

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 20, pages 53–59 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of dopamine receptor agonists on potassium channels' activity and their signal transduction pathway in corporal smooth muscle cells. We used cultured human corporal smooth muscle cells. The whole cell and cell-attached configuration of the patch-clamp technique were used for electrophysiological recordings, and enzyme immunoassay was used for measuring cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP levels. Extracellular application of 10 μM dopamine and apomorphine significantly increased whole-cell K+ currents by 283.5±55.7% (at +60 mV; n=12, P<0.001), 292.4±58.8.0% (at +60 mV; n=9, P<0.005), respectively. We confirmed that the increase in whole-cell currents was mainly due to activation of the tetraethylammonium-sensitive large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa channels). Enzyme immunoassay indicated that dopamine and apomorphine stimulates cAMP levels in corporal smooth muscle cells in a concentration-dependent fashion. The activation of BKCa channels by dopamine receptor agonists in corporal smooth muscle cells might be one of the mechanisms in inducing penile erection.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Soo Jung Lee, a student of Brooks School, for her assistance with translation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    D H Han, M R Chae & S W Lee

  2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    I So

  3. Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Chonbuk National University Institute for Medical Sciences and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonju, South Korea

    J K Park

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Correspondence to S W Lee.

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Han, D., Chae, M., So, I. et al. The effects of dopamine receptor agonists on BKCa channels and signal transduction mechanism in corpus cavernosal smooth muscle cells. Int J Impot Res 20, 53–59 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901623

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