Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review of Impotence Literature
  • Published:

Increased expression of arginase II in human diabetic corpus cavernosum: in diabetic-associated erectile dysfunction

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 14, page 204 (2002)Cite this article

Biochem Biophys Res Comm 2001; 283: 923–927.

Editorial comment: The connection between the biology of nitric oxide (NO), the principal mediator of penile erection, and the erectile dysfunction of diabetes mellitus has commonly been that of decreased content of both neuronal and endothelial NO synthases in the diseased penis and, therefrom, decreased local production of NO by these iso-enzymes. Recent evidence has demonstrated that arginase, which competes for the same substrate L-arginine as NOS, is expressed in human corpus cavernosum and its inhibition facilitates NO-dependent relaxation of penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. In light of this knowledge, these investigators hypothesized that the biology of arginase is dysregulated in diabetic penile tissue contributing to altered NO synthesis in the corpora cavernosa of the diabetic penis. Their investigation consisted of evaluating arginase gene expression, protein levels, and enzyme activity comparatively in both diabetic and normal human cavernosal tissue. They found that all parameters of arginase II, but not arginase I, are increased in diabetic tissue, and inhibition of arginase activity reversed the reduction in NO synthesis in this tissue. The findings support an alternative mechanism for impaired NO-dependent penile erection in diabetogenic erectile dysfunction. They also expand concepts of NO biological regulation in the penis and foster new therapeutic possibilities on this basis for erectile dysfunction.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

    T J Bivalacqua, W J G Hellstrom, P J Kadowitz & H C Champion

Authors
  1. T J Bivalacqua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W J G Hellstrom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P J Kadowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H C Champion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bivalacqua, T., Hellstrom, W., Kadowitz, P. et al. Increased expression of arginase II in human diabetic corpus cavernosum: in diabetic-associated erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 14, 204 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900849

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900849

Search

Advanced search

Quick links