Korean J Urol.  2001 Feb;42(2):159-165.

Effects of PCLS-2 in Regulation of Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle Tone

• Park JK
• Kim JU
• Cho KW
• Lee SK
• Kim YC
• Lee HS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Relaxation of the penile cavernosum smooth muscle is a critical event in erection. Artemisia iwaymogi(AI) is a perennial herb growing in Korea. The aerial parts have been used in folk medicine. Bioassay-guided fractionation of an H2O extract of AI has furnished an inhibitory substance (PCLS-2). We investigated compound extracted in the rabbit corporal cavernosum smooth muscle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bioassay-guided fractionation of an H2O extract was used. A strip of rabbit corpus cavernosum was mounted in an organ chamber to measure the isometric tension. PCLS-2 compound induced relaxations were evaluated by in vitro study using muscarinic receptor blocker atropine (ATR), cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) ihibitor Nitro-L Arginine-Methyl Ester (NAME), guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin 1-one (ODQ), intrinsic neurotransmission inhibitor tetrodotoxin (TTX), or/and potassium channel blockers.
RESULTS
PCLS-2 showed relaxation in a dose-dependent manner. Atropine, Indomethacin, NAME, ODQ, TTX, glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium, 4-aminopyridine, charybdotoxin, or apamin did not inhibit the relaxation induced by PCLS-2 compound.
CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that the PCL-2 compound has effect of relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and the relaxation was not involved muscarinic receptor, nitric oxide, prostaglandin, potassium channels and intrinsic neurotransmission. Other mechanisms may by involved in the PCLS-2 induced relaxation in the rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.

Keyword

Nitric oxide; Isometric tension; Penile smooth muscle; Artemisia; Relaxation

MeSH Terms

4-Aminopyridine
Apamin
Artemisia
Atropine
Charybdotoxin
Glyburide
Guanylate Cyclase
Indomethacin
Korea
Medicine, Traditional
Muscle, Smooth*
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Potassium Channel Blockers
Potassium Channels
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Receptors, Muscarinic
Relaxation
Synaptic Transmission
Tetraethylammonium
Tetrodotoxin
4-Aminopyridine
Apamin
Atropine
Charybdotoxin
Glyburide
Guanylate Cyclase
Indomethacin
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Potassium Channel Blockers
Potassium Channels
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Receptors, Muscarinic
Tetraethylammonium
Tetrodotoxin