Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on the Relaxation of Clitoral Corpus Cavernosum in Rabbit.
- Author:
Sun Ouck KIM
1
;
Min Kyung KIM
;
Myeong Jeong CHAE
;
Hwi Young KIM
;
Jong Kwan PARK
;
Kwangsung PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kpark@chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Korean red ginseng;
Rabbits;
Clitoris
- MeSH:
Clitoris;
Female;
Muscle, Smooth;
Nitric Oxide;
Panax*;
Rabbits;
Radioimmunoassay;
Relaxation*
- From:Korean Journal of Andrology
2006;24(1):29-34
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of Korean Red Ginseng(KRG) extract on the relaxation of the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbit clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle strips were mounted in organ chambers to measure isometric tension. The strips were contracted with phenylephrine(5 x 10(-6) M), and the responses to KRG extract(1~20 mg/ml), nitric oxide inhibitor(N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) receptor antagonist, KCl were examined. The cGMP content of the strips was measured by radioimmunoassay after various dose of KRG extract. RESULTS: The KRG extract(1~20 mg/ml) relaxed the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner up to 95%. The relaxation effect of KRG extract was significantly inhibited by L-NAME(10(-4) M) in clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. The KRG extract also inhibited the contraction induced by depolarization with 10, 20, 40 mM of KCl. The KRG extract(1, 5 mg/ml) increased the accumulation of cGMP in clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that KRG extract has a relaxing effect on the clitoral corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbit. These effects are in part mediated by the NO-cGMP pathway and a hyperpolarizing action.
