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.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Gene and protein expression profiles of prostaglandin E2 receptor subtypes in the human corpus cavernosum

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 18, pages 275–281 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Prostaglandin E1 leads to penile erection, mainly via prostaglandin E2 (EP) receptors. This study aimed to identify the expression profile of EP receptor genes in human corpus cavernosum. Using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the mRNA levels of EP receptor subtypes were measured. In addition, expressions of EP receptor subtype proteins were determined by immunohistochemical method. Among the four subtypes, EP4 receptor mRNA expression was the highest, and EP2 receptor mRNA followed, whereas EP1 and EP3 receptor mRNAs were hardly observed. Expression level of EP4 receptor mRNA was significantly higher than that of EP2 receptor mRNA. Expression of both EP2 and EP4 receptor proteins were clearly detected in the cavernous smooth muscle. These results may suggest that EP4 receptor plays an important role among four EP receptor subtypes for relaxation of smooth muscle in the human corpus cavernosum.

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

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Accession codes

Accessions

GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ

References

  1. Goldstein I, Lue TF, Padma-Nathan H, Rosen RC, Steers WD, Wicker PA . Oral sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. New Engl J Med 1998; 338: 1397–1404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Stackl W, Hasun R, Marberger M . Intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 in impotent men. J Urol 1988; 140: 66–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Porst H . The rationale for prostaglandin E1 in erectile failure: a survey of worldwide experience. J Urol 1996; 155: 802–815.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Rajasekaran M, Pagnon V, Monga M . Vasoactive agents induce cytotoxicity in cultured human penile smooth muscle cells. Urology 2002; 59: 155–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Coleman RA, Smith WL, Narumiya S . International Union of Pharmacology classification of prostanoid receptors: properties, distribution, and structure of the receptors and their subtypes. Pharmacol Rev 1994; 46: 205–229.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wittwer CT, Herrmann MG, Moss AA, Rasmussen RP . Continuous fluorescence monitoring of rapid cycle DNA amplification. Biotechniques 1997; 22: 130–138.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Morath R, Klein T, Seyberth HW, Nusing RM . Immunolocalization of the four prostaglandin E2 receptor proteins EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 in human kidney. J Am Soc Nephrol 1999; 10: 1851–1860.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schmittgen TD, Zakrajsek BA . Effect of experimental treatment on housekeeping gene expression: validation by real-time, quantitative RT-PCR. J Biochem Biophys Methods 2000; 46: 69–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nazarenko I, Lowe B, Darfler M, Ikonomi P, Schuster D, Rashtchian A . Multiplex quantitative PCR using self-quenched primers labeled with a single fluorophore. Nucleic Acids Res 2002; 30: e37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kamphuis W, Schneemann A, van Beek LM, Smit AB, Hoyng PF, Koya E . Prostanoid receptor gene expression profile in human trabecular meshwork: a quantitative real-time PCR approach. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2001; 42: 3209–3215.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dhar AK, Roux MM, Klimpel KR . Detection and quantification of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus and white spot virus in shrimp using real-time quantitative PCR and SYBR Green chemistry. J Clin Microbiol 2001; 39: 2835–2845.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Angulo J, Cuevas P, La Fuente JM, Pomerol JM, Ruiz-Castane E, Puigvert A et al. Regulation of human penile smooth muscle tone by prostanoid receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2002; 136: 23–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Abramovitz M, Adam M, Boie Y, Carriere M, Denis D, Godbout C et al. The utilization of recombinant prostanoid receptors to determine the affinities and selectivities of prostaglandins and related analogs. Biochim Biophys Acta 2000; 1483: 285–293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Moreland RB, Kim N, Nehra A, Goldstein I, Traish A . Functional prostaglandin E (EP) receptors in human penile corpus cavernosum. Int J Impot Res 2003; 15: 362–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moreland RB, Albadawi H, Bratton C, Patton G, Goldstein I, Traish A et al. O2-dependent prostanoid synthesis activates functional PGE receptors on corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2001; 281: H552–H588.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kotani M, Tanaka I, Ogawa Y, Usui T, Tamura N, Mori K et al. Structural organization of the human prostaglandin EP3 receptor subtype gene (PTGER3). Genomics 1997; 40: 425–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Maruyama T, Kuwabe SI, Kawanaka Y, Shiraishi T, Shinagawa Y, Sakata K et al. Design and synthesis of a selective EP4-receptor agonist. Part 4: Practical synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel highly selective EP4-receptor agonist. Bioorg Med Chem 2002; 10: 2103–2110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kajino H, Taniguchi T, Fujieda K, Ushikubi F, Muramatsu I . An EP4 receptor agonist prevents indomethacin-induced closure of rat ductus arteriosus in vivo. Pediatr Res 2004; 56: 586–590.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kabashima K, Saji T, Murata T, Nagamachi M, Matsuoka T, Segi E et al. The prostaglandin receptor EP4 suppresses colitis, mucosal damage and CD4 cell activation in the gut. J Clin Invest 2002; 109: 883–893.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bastepe M, Ashby B . Identification of a region of the C-terminal domain involved in short-term desensitization of the prostaglandin EP4 receptor. Brit J Pharmacol 1999; 126: 365–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Desai S, April H, Nwaneshiudu C, Ashby B . Comparison of agonist-induced internalization of the human EP2 and EP4 prostaglandin receptors: role of the carboxyl terminus in EP4 receptor sequestration. Mol Pharmacol 2000; 58: 1279–1286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the Grant in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan to Dr M Takeda (No. 14370508, 15639014 and 16659436), and to Dr I Araki (No. 16591588).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi, Faculty of Medicine, Yamanashi, Japan

    M Komuro, M Kamiyama, Y Furuya, Y Takihana, I Araki & M Takeda

Authors
  1. M Komuro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Kamiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y Furuya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y Takihana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I Araki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M Takeda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Komuro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Komuro, M., Kamiyama, M., Furuya, Y. et al. Gene and protein expression profiles of prostaglandin E2 receptor subtypes in the human corpus cavernosum. Int J Impot Res 18, 275–281 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901408

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901408

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links