National Journal of Andrology 2004;10(8):636-639

Effect of chuanxiongzine on the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissues.

Hengjun XIAO 1 ; Jihong LIU ; Chunping YIN ; Tao WANG ; Jun CHEN ; Longchang FAN ; Zhi CHEN ; Zhangqun YE

Affiliations

+expand

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of chuanxiongzine on the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissues.

METHODSObservations were made on the relaxing effect of chuanxiongzine on phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted corpus cavernosum and cavernosal strips preincubated with L-NAME, and ODQ, using endothelium removal and experimental method of smooth muscle strips. The effect of chuanxiongzine on cAMP and cGMP levels in corpus cavernosum was measured by 125I radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSChuanxiongzine had concentration-dependent relaxing effect on the cavernosal muscle contraction induced by PE (EC50 1.58 x 10(-4) mol/L). This relaxing effect was partially antagonized by ODQ and not blocked by L-NAME or endothelium removal. In PE-precontracted cavernosal strips, chuanxiongzine induced relaxation accompanied with an increase in cAMP and cGMP levels.

CONCLUSIONChuanxiongzine was effective in relaxing cavernosal muscle precontracted by PE in vitro. And its relaxing effect may be enhanced by increasing cGMP and cAMP levels in the corpus cavernosum.