Effect of Cocoa Extract on Tension of the Corpus Cavernosal Tissue in Rat.
- Author:
See Min CHOI
1
;
Deok Ha SEO
;
Seung Hyun LEE
;
Sung Uk JEH
;
Sung Chul KAM
;
Jae Hun JUNG
;
Jeong Seok HWA
;
Ky Hyun CHUNG
;
Jae Seog HYUN
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. hyunjs@gnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cocoa extract;
Corpus cavernosal tissue;
Erectile function
- MeSH:
Animals;
Baths;
Cacao;
Endothelium;
Humans;
Male;
NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester;
Penile Erection;
Phenylephrine;
Rats;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
Relaxation
- From:Korean Journal of Andrology
2008;26(3):115-122
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
