Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-12-25
pubmed:abstractText
This study assessed whether the in vivo production of nitric oxide (NO) in the penis is impaired in experimental diabetes and whether this phenomenon can be explained by abnormal levels of NO synthase isoenzymes and/or plasma androgens. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle. One half of the STZ-treated animals received daily insulin replacement. Twelve weeks later, the animals were tested for mating behavior and erectile reflexes. They were then anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg), and the NO levels in their corpora cavernosa were monitored electrochemically with porphyrin microsensors before and after electrostimulation of the cavernous nerve. The intracavernous pressure (ICP) was measured simultaneously. The diabetic animals had substantial impairment in the mating and erectile reflexes tests, decreased basal and stimulated NO levels in the corpora, and a reduced ICP response to cavernous nerve stimulation. Insulin replacement fully reversed the effects of diabetes on the mating reflexes, the basal NO signals, and the ICP responses to electrical field stimulation and partially restored the stimulated NO release. Neither diabetes nor diabetes with insulin treatment had significant effects on serum testosterone levels or NOS isoform (nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS) protein content in penile homogenates, indicating that the changes found in erectile function were independent of such variables. These results also suggest that the diabetes-induced reduction in corporeal NO levels could be mainly due to the lack of some essential cofactors for NOS activity rather than to changes in the amount of enzyme proteins.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0006-3363
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
66
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
185-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Changes in mating behavior, erectile function, and nitric oxide levels in penile corpora cavernosa in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, 38071 Tenerife, Spain.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't