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Enhanced relaxation of diabetic rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle in response to nitric oxide: potential relevance to erectile dysfunction

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 14, pages 523–532 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

New Zealand white rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle strips (n=6) were mounted in organ baths. Relaxations to nitric oxide (10−7–10−4 mol/l) were measured and the same procedure was repeated on strips from rabbits 6 months after alloxan-induced diabetes (n=6). Transverse cavernosal sections were obtained from the same penises. Low and high resolution autoradiographs were prepared using [3H]-L-NG-nitroarginine (an index of nitric oxide binding sites) and analysed densitometrically. Histochemical analysis was performed on adjacent sections using NADPH diaphorase (an index of nitric oxide synthase activity).

Nitric oxide relaxed control rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle strips in a concentration-dependent manner. Diabetic rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle strips were significantly (P<0.03) more sensitive to nitric oxide (mean IC50=3.9 × 10−6 mol/l). Nitric oxide synthase binding sites were localised to the cavernosal endothelium and smooth muscle. Nitric oxide synthase activity was increased in 6 month diabetic cavernosal smooth muscle. These findings suggest impairments in the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway may play a role in the pathophysiology of diabetic erectile dysfunction.

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Acknowledgements

MES is supported by a Novo Nordisk Diabetic Research Grant and MRD by the British Heart Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology (Molecular Pathology), Royal Free and University College Medical School and The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, Pond Street, London, UK

    M E Sullivan, F H Mumtaz & R J Morgan

  2. Department of Molecular Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free and University College Medical School and The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, Pond Street, London, UK

    M R Dashwood, C S Thompson & D P Mikhailidis

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Royal Free and University College Medical School and The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, Pond Street, London, UK

    K M Naseem & K R Bruckdorfer

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  1. M E Sullivan
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  2. F H Mumtaz
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  7. D P Mikhailidis
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Correspondence to M E Sullivan.

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Sullivan, M., Mumtaz, F., Dashwood, M. et al. Enhanced relaxation of diabetic rabbit cavernosal smooth muscle in response to nitric oxide: potential relevance to erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 14, 523–532 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900935

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