Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1993-3-9
pubmed:abstractText
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive afferent nerve fibers are abundant in the rat penis. In addition, NADPH-diaphorase, which stains for nitric oxide synthase, has been localized within both autonomic and sensory dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and may be part of an important biochemical pathway involved in penile tumescence. The purpose of this study was: 1) to examine the circuitry of afferent nerves that are CGRP immunoreactive from the L6 DRG, 2) to examine the possibility that there are NADPH-diaphorase-positive afferent fibers from the L6 DRG to the rat penis, and 3) to examine the localization and colocalization of CGRP and NADPH-diaphorase within L6 DRG afferent perikarya. Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunostaining in the penis was eliminated following a bilateral transection of the pudendal nerves, but was unchanged following a bilateral transection of the pelvic splanchnic or hypogastric nerves. The NADPH-diaphorase staining was not altered by any of the nerve transections. Injection of the retrograde axonal tracer fluorogold (FG) into the dorsum penis labeled perikarya in the L6 DRG. Although the majority of FG-labeled perikarya contained neither CGRP nor NADPH-diaphorase, small subpopulations of perikarya contained either CGRP immunoreactivity, NADPH-diaphorase, or both. A unilateral pudendal nerve transection virtually eliminated (> 99%) FG labeling in the ipsilateral L6 DRG. These data suggest that NADPH-diaphorase and CGRP are present, either together or separately, within a subpopulation of penile afferent perikarya. In addition, CGRP-immunoreactive afferent nerve fibers reach the penis primarily via the pudendal nerves. Finally, NADPH-diaphorase-positive penile afferents may be another important source of nitric oxide (NO) for penile tumescence.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0196-9781
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
13
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1239-46
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
CGRP immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase in afferent nerves of the rat penis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't