Effect of Cocoa Extract on Tension of the Corpus Cavernosal Tissue in Rat

Choi, See Min; Seo, Deok Ha; Lee, Seung Hyun; Jeh, Sung Uk; Kam, Sung Chul; Jung, Jae Hun; Hwa, Jeong Seok; Chung, Ky Hyun; Hyun, Jae Seog

Abstract

PURPOSE: Cocoa has antihypertensive activity, improves cerebral blood flow, and is an antioxidant. We evaluated the effect of cocoa extract on penile erection using the relaxation of the corpus cavernosal tissue in rat.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We used male 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 250-350 g divided into three groups: corpus cavernosal tissue with the endothelium (group 1), tissue without the endothelium (group 2), and endothelium pretreated with L-NAME (group 3). Changes in isometric tension were examined in an organ bath. Aortic tissues were divided into three groups and treated in similar experiments simultaneously.
RESULTS
Cocoa extract dose-dependently relaxed corpus cavernosal tissue pre-contracted by phenylephrine (10-6). In group 1, cocoa extract (10-3g/ml) induced relaxation by 97+/-5% (mean+/-SD). The extract was still effective but less potent tissue without endothelium or pretreated with L-NAME (10-4M). Similar effects were seen in aortic rings.
CONCLUSION
Cocoa extract relaxes corpus cavernosal tissue in a dose-dependent manner via NOS and the endothelium. Cocoa extract may therefore be effective for improving erectile function.