Chonnam Med J.  2007 Apr;43(1):52-57.

The Expression of eNOS and ET-1 in Corpus Cavernosum in Male Rat with Partial Bladder Outlet Obstruction

• Park SH
• Lee KS

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction are co-morbid disease in aging male. Relaxation and contraction of corpus cavernosum is an essential factor in the course of penile erection which are closely associated with the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the expression of eNOS and ET-1 in corpus carvenosum and the erectile dysfunction by inducing partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) in the male rats. Using ten Starague-Dawley male rats, PBOO was induced by placing the 25 guage angioneedle sheath around the urethra, then ligating the bladder neck with 3-0 suture then eliminated the sheath. Sham- operated rats were ligated loosely so obstruction could not be present. After 3 weeks of surgery, distal penile tissues were dissected for immunohistochemical staining of eNOS and ET-1. The expression of eNOS was slightly decreased whereas the expression of ET-1 was significantly incresed in the endothelial cells and smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum after onset of PBOO. The significant increase of ET-1 along with the decreased of eNOS in the endothelial cells and smooth muscles of corpus cavernosum after PBOO plays important role in erectile dysfunction. Therefore, we suggest that benign prostate hyperplasia relates with erectile dysfunction.

Keyword

Urinary bladder neck obstruction; Impotence; Nitric oxide; Endothelins

MeSH Terms

Aging
Animals
Endothelial Cells
Endothelin-1
Endothelins
Erectile Dysfunction
Humans
Hyperplasia
Male*
Muscle, Smooth
Neck
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Penile Erection
Prostate
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Rats*
Relaxation
Sutures
Urethra
Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction*
Urinary Bladder*
Endothelin-1
Endothelins
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III