title: Cholinergic neurotransmission in human corpus cavernosum. II. Acetylcholine synthesis.
abstract: Physiological and histochemical evidence indicates that cholinergic nerves may participate in mediating penile erection. Acetylcholine synthesis and release was studied in isolated human corporal tissue. Human corpus cavernosum incubated with [3H )choline accumulated [3H]choline and synthesized [3H]acetylcholine in a concentration-dependent manner. [3H]Acetylcholine accumulation by the tissue was inhibited by hemicholinium-3, a specific antagonist of the high-affinity choline transport in cholinergic nerves. Transmural electrical field stimulation caused release of [3H]acetylcholine which was significantly diminished by inhibiting neurotransmission with calcium-free physiological salt solution or tetrodotoxin. These observations provide biochemical and physiological evidence for the existence of cholinergic innervation in human corpus cavernosum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts 02118.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saenz de Tejada
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Krane
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wotiz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006426:Hemicholinium 3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D006426:Hemicholinium 3; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine