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Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Vaginal Blood Flow and Structure in Hypercholesterolemic Female Rats.

Hyun Suk LEE ; Mi Na LEE ; In Sang HWANG ; Sun Ouck KIM ; Kyuyoun AHN ; Kwangsung PARK

Korean Journal of Andrology.2005;23(3):159-164.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of Korean Red Ginseng(KRG) on vaginal blood flow and histological changes in a hypercholesterolemic female rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: the control(n=20) and the hypercholesterolemia(n=40). Hypercholesterolemia group was fed a high fat diet(2% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid, 5% coconut oil) for 12 weeks. The hypercholesterolemia group was further divided into the vehicle only and the KRG treatment(50 mg/kg/day) groups. After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, vaginal blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler flowmeter. Vaginal tissues were processed for histology and Western blot. RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, serum cholesterol levels(mg/dl) were significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemia group(1185.0+/-736.1, 934.3+/-212.3) compared with the control group(69.7+/-19.5, 67.1+/-7.2), and partially decreased in KRG treatment group(688.2+/-251.5, 694.2+/-150.4), respectively. Vaginal blood flow(ml/min/100 g tissue) after pelvic nerve stimulation was lower in the hypercholesterolemia group(17.3+/-7.9, 17.9+/-5.5) compared with the control group(27.3+/-17.1, 26.9+/-16.4), however, the KRG treatment group(29.5+/-10.3, 27.4+/-11.1) was as high as the control group, respectively. The expressions of TGF-beta1 tended to increase in the vagina of the hypercholesterolemia animals compared to those of the control and the KRG treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: KRG treatment in hypercholesterolemic female rats decreased serum cholesterol levels and improved vaginal blood flow. These results suggest that KRG treatment may have a beneficial effect in women's sexual health.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cholesterol ; Cholic Acid ; Cocos ; Female* ; Flowmeters ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Models, Animal ; Panax* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproductive Health ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vagina

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Establishment of an In Vivo Rat Model to Investigate Female Vaginal Arousal Response.

Tae Bum KIM ; Ji Hyun YANG ; Jae Seung PAICK ; Soo Woong KIM

Korean Journal of Andrology.2005;23(3):153-158.

PURPOSE: We established a rat model to investigate the female vaginal arousal response and the effects of the estrous cycle on vaginal blood flow in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure changes in vaginal blood flow induced by pelvic nerve stimulation(PNS) in 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats. Frequency response data were obtained in each animal. In addition, the rat's stage in the estrous cycle was determined according to the cell types observed in a vaginal smear. Changes in blood flow at 10 Hz frequency caused maximal response, and these responses were evaluated by comparing the relative peak flow, time to peak, duration of response, and relative area under the curve(AUC) according to the estrous cycle. RESULTS: Reproducible frequency dependent increases in vaginal blood flow were observed in response to PNS. Relative peak flow, time to peak, duration of response and relative AUC were slightly greater in proestrus and estrus groups(relatively higher estradiol level, n=17) than those in metestrus and diestrus groups(relatively lower estradiol level, n=13). However, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the rat is a useful and reliable animal model for investigating the vaginal arousal response. In addition, the estrous cycle of the animal does not seem to be an important confounding factor in this animal model.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Arousal* ; Diestrus ; Estradiol ; Estrous Cycle ; Estrus ; Female* ; Humans ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Metestrus ; Models, Animal* ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vagina ; Vaginal Smears

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Penile Expression of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1alpha, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Type II Diabetic Rat.

Hyun Jun PARK ; Bu Kyung PARK ; Nam Cheol PARK

Korean Journal of Andrology.2005;23(3):144-152.

PURPOSE: Erectile dysfunction(ED) is commonly experienced in men with diabetes mellitus. Hypoxia in the penile tissue by vascular complications is regarded as a pathophysiologic factor in diabetic ED. The aim of this study is to investigate whether HIF-1alpha is altered in diabetic penile tissues and whether its alteration may modulate penile expression of VEGF and NOS, which are believed to play a role in diabeteic ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OLETF rats, an animal model for type II diabetes mellitus, and LETO rats, a non-diabetic control group, were used. We analyzed the distribution of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and NOS(eNOS and iNOS) in the isolated corupus cavernosum of both LETO and OLETF rats by immunohistochemicalstaining. The mRNA expression levels of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, eNOS, and iNOS were also analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). RESULTS: There was no difference in the concentration of nitrite/nitrate in cavernosal homogenate between LETO rats and OLETF rats. By immunohistochemical staining. HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and iNOS were expressed more abundantly in stain in OLETF rats. By RT-PCR analysis, HIF-1alpha mRNA, VEGF mRNA and iNOS mRNA expression levels were higher in the OLETF rats compared to LETO rats. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that increased HIF-1alpha, VEGF and iNOS expressions in OLETF rat may be associated with microvascular injury in corpus cavernosum. Such microvascular injury is proposed to be associated with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Penis ; Rats* ; Rats, Inbred OLETF ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

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High Flow Priapism Treated by Repeated Embolization.

Jung Hun LEE ; Jong Wook LEE ; Kyu Hung HAN ; Jeong Man CHO ; Jeong Yoon KANG ; Sung Bum CHO ; Jeong Yun JEONG

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):106-109.

We describe a case of priapism after perineal blunt trauma in a 32-year old man who complained of painless and persistent erection. We confirmed high-flow priapism by cavernosal blood gas analysis, Doppler ultrasonography, and arteriography. A pseudoaneurysm was blocked by selective carvernosal artery embolization with autologous clot. Penile tumescence did not completely disappear during the following 4 weeks, and the patient complained of penile discomfort. Reembolization of the cavernosal artery with autologous clot was successful in reversing the erection. The patient has normal erectile status and no complaints during 30 months follow-up.
Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Priapism* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

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Change of PSA and PSAD after Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Prostatitis.

In Rae CHO ; Young Seop CHANG ; Joong Seok ROH ; Joon Seong JEON ; Seok San PARK

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):100-105.

PURPOSE: Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for the early detection of prostate cancer, with biopsies often being performed when the serum concentration exceeds a defined threshold. The concept of prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) was introduced to enhance the specificity of serum PSA for cancer. We investigated the change in serum PSA and PSAD in patients with clinical prostatitis after antibiotic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 39 patients with chronic prostatitis whose serum PSA and PSAD exceeded 4.0 ng/ml and 0.15 ng/ml/cm3, respectively, were reviewed retrospectively. After they received 4 to 8 weeks of antibiotics, the serum PSA concentration was remeasured. Men with persistently elevated serum PSA concentrations underwent prostate biopsy. RESULTS: The mean pretreatment serum PSA and PSAD was 8.73 ng/ml and 0.24 ng/ml/cm3, respectively. After antibiotic treatment, the mean values decreased significantly, to 4.55 ng/ml and 0.13 ng/ml/cm3, respectively (p<0.05). The mean decrease in serum PSA was 4.19 3.78 ng/ml, a mean relative change 44.3 31.7%. Among 39 men, 22 (56.4%) had their serum PSA and PSAD values return to the normal ranges. Prostate biopsy in 24 patients with persistently elevated serum PSA or PSAD after antibiotic therapy revealed prostate cancer in 4. CONCLUSIONS: Prostatitis is one of the most important factors in serum PSA and PSAD elevation in men without clinically detectable prostate cancer. A decrease in PSA and PSAD after antibiotic treatment can help in avoiding unnecessary prostate biopsies.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Prostatitis* ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

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Effect of Panax Ginseng Water Extract for Treatment of Male Infertility.

Yong Tae KIM ; Hyung Lae LEE ; Sang Cheol LEE ; Kwan Hee SHIN ; Kwang Hee HAN ; Seung Chan LEE ; Hoon JANG ; Tae Hwan KIM ; Wun Jae KIM

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):94-99.

PURPOSE: We previously reported that Panax ginseng water extract (PG-WE) played both preventive and therapeutic roles on testicular toxicity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in animal study, one of the most potent environmental pollutants. Thus we investigated whether PG-WE might be useful in the treatment of male infertility, because men in modern society are exposed by numerous environmental hormones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with abnormal semen analysis and 8 volunteers whose semen analysis were normal as control group were enrolled in this study. Before PG-WE administration, semen analysis, hormonal study, liver and renal function test, CBC, and urinalysis were checked in all subjects. PG-WE (2.4 gm) was administered everyday for 8 weeks in both groups. Follow-up semen analysis and laboratory studies were checked at 13th week. RESULTS: In patient group semen volume was increased (2.4 1.3 ml vs 2.6 1.6 ml, p=0.051). Semen volume as well as sperm concentration in oligospermia patient were increased but not significantly. Serum estradiol level decreased by PG-WE treatment in patient group (p=0.005). All subjects showed no toxic effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that Panax ginseng is a potential agent that can improve abnormal sperm parameters in infertile male patients and also improve the sperm quality in healthy men.
Animals ; Environmental Pollutants ; Estradiol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male* ; Liver ; Male ; Male* ; Oligospermia ; Panax* ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Urinalysis ; Volunteers ; Water*

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Antioxidative Effect of Rebamipide in Cryopreservation and Thawing of Sperm.

Nam Cheol PARK ; Eun PARK ; Kyeong Mi LEE

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):87-93.

PURPOSE: We performed this study to investigate the effects of adding rebamipide to cryoprotectant, to identify the improvement in sperm parameters by antioxidative action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples from 30 normal healthy volunteers were collected. Rebapimide was added with various concentration in cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated for 3 days and thawed at room temperature. Sperm motility, vitality, fertile activity, levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation were analyzed by semen analysis, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypo-osmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, before and after cryopreservation and thawing. RESULTS: After cryopreservation and thawing, the sperm motility was significantly decreased in all concentrations, but motility was higher in proportion to concentration of rebapimide (p<0.05). The sperm vitality showed no significant difference related to the concentration of rebamipide related cryopreservation (p>0.05). The levels of seminal ROS and the lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased in proportion to the concentration of rebamipide after cryopreservation and thawing (p<0.05), but the total swelling rate in hypo-osmotic swelling test was significantly increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rebamipide is an effective free radical scavenger to protect sperm from oxidative cellualr damage during cryopreservation and thawing.
Cryopreservation* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Infertility, Male ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Luminescence ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

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Erectile Function and Cavernosal TGF-beta Expression in the OLETF Rats.

Sung Hun PARK ; Minkyung KIM ; Kyungdai MIN ; Kwangsung PARK

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):82-86.

PURPOSE: The mechanism of erectile dysfunction in type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has not been well demonstrated. The aims of this study were to investigate erectile function and cavernosal TGF-beta expression in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, which develop NIDDM naturally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male OLETF rats and ten control LETO rats were included in this study. After 30 weeks, blood glucose levels and body weights were measured. Systemic arterial pressure and intracavernosal pressure were measured before and after pelvic nerve stimulation. Cross sections of the penis were processed for histologic and immunohistochemistry examinations. RESULTS: The mean body weights and mean blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the OLETF group (645.0 40.0 g; 130.8 55.6 mg/ml) compared to control group (538.0 14.4 g; 84.1 14.7 mg/ml), respectively (p<0.05). Nerve stimulation-induced peak intracavernosal pressure (mmHg) was significantly decreased in the OLETF group (41.3 15.4 mmHg) compared to control group (83.3 15.8 mmHg) (p<0.05). In the OLETF rats, the collagen connective tissue in the corpus cavernosum showed a dense and irregular arrangement. The immunoreactivity for TGF-beta 1 was prominent in collagen fibers, fibroblast and smooth muscle in the OLETF rats. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, OLETF rats showed significantly decreased erectile function compared with control rats, and histologic examination revealed cavernosal fibrosis and increased TGF-beta 1 expression. These results imply that the OLETF rat may be a good model to study the mechanism of erectile dysfunction in NIDDM.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Penis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

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The Role of Chronic Endothelin Antagonism for Preserving Erectile Function in Experimental Diabetic Rats.

Dae Yul YANG ; Sung Yong KIM ; Hayoung KIM ; Jae Seog HYUN ; Wayne J G HELLSTROM

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):75-81.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the role of chronic endothelin receptor antagonism to preserve erectile function in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 gm) were divided into 4 groups: Group 1, non-diabetic control rats (n=5); Group 2, non-diabetic rats fed 10 mg/kg of RO-485695, a combined endothelin receptor antagonist (n=5); Group 3, diabetic control (n=15); Group 4, diabetic rats fed 10 mg/kg of RO-485695 (n=15). Streptozotocin, 65 mg/kg, was used for development of diabetes mellitus. Body weight and blood glucose levels were measured every 2 weeks and drug feeding was done by oral gavage. Twelve weeks after induction of diabetes and RO-485695 treatment, erectile function was determined by measurement of intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and maximal arterial pressure (MAP) after electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve. RT-PCR analysis for detection of mRNA of endothelin-1, endothelin receptor A (ET-A), and endothelin receptor B (ET-B), and Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical evaluation of the eNOS protein were performed. RESULTS: Body weight and blood glucose levels were not influenced by 10 mg/kg of RO-485695. Erectile function after 5 volts stimulation was significantly decreased in the diabetic rat (group 3 & 4) compared with the non-diabetic rat (group 1 & 2) (64.3+/-9.6 vs 41.9+/-14.8 mmHg), but increased in group 4 compared with group 3 (44.3+/-16.9 vs 36.6+/-10.1 mmHg). The mRNA expression of endothelin-1 was up-regulated significantly in group 3 & 4 when compared with group 1 & 2. However this endothelin expression was down-regulated in group 4 compared with group 3. The mRNA expression of ET-A among 4 groups was not significantly different. ET-B band in rat cavernosal tissue could not be observed in any group under these conditions. eNOS protein expression was increased in group 4 compared with group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic endothelin receptor antagonism in the experimental diabetic rat model has been demonstrated to preserve cavernosal erectile function, suggesting a possible therapeutic role for endothelin receptor antagonists in diabetic erectile dysfunction.
Adult ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electric Stimulation ; Endothelin-1 ; Endothelins* ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Endothelin ; RNA, Messenger ; Streptozocin

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Changing Trends in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in the Era of Oral Sildenafil.

Sung Young OH ; Hyouk Joon JUN ; Sae Chul KIM

Korean Journal of Andrology.2002;20(2):69-74.

PURPOSE: Intracavernous injection (ICI) was once the cornerstone of treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). This study was designed to investigate how the treatment of ED has changed since introduction of oral sildenafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a total of 574 new ED (mean duration 2.9 years) patients with a mean age of 52.6 11.8 years, associated diseases, the cause and duration of ED, and the treatment used initially and after 6 months were investigated. RESULTS: The ED was psychogenic in 40.7% of the men. The most common cause of organic ED was vascular (18.1%) followed by diabetes (15.9%). The associated diseases were hypertension (19.9%), diabetes mellitus (16.5%), trauma and surgery (5.5%), endocrinologic (4.7%), coronary artery (1.6%), and hypercholesterolemia (1.1%). The initial treatment modality was an oral sildenafil in 68.7%, ICI in 11.3%, testosterone replacement in 2.7%, implantation of penile prostheses in 0.8%, and wait and see in 16.5%. Six months later, excluding the patients lost to follow-up, 73.4% of the patients were using oral sildenafil and 20.5% were using ICI. CONCLUSIONS: Oral sildenafil has largely replaced intracavernous injection for the initial treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Coronary Vessels ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Penile Prosthesis ; Testosterone ; Sildenafil Citrate

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