title: The major pelvic ganglion is the main source of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerve fibers in penile erectile tissue of the rat.
abstract: The possible implication of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in penile erection was examined by utilizing NADPH histochemistry in the rat. NADPH histochemistry indicated that the major pelvic ganglion (MPG), a well-known origin of nerve fibers supplying the external genitalia, contained many NOS-positive neurons. On the other hand, NOS-positive nerve fibers in penile erectile tissue observed in the walls of both arteries and veins, as well as in intrinsic smooth muscles. The retrograde tracing study with Fluoro-Gold (FG) in combination with NADPH histochemistry revealed that almost all MPG neurons which were retrogradely labeled with FG injected into the penile crura were NOS-positive. Thus, the MPG was considered to be the main source of NOS-positive nerve fibers in penile erectile tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Fourth Military Medical University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: B Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013266:Stilbamidines
chemical_list: C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013266:Stilbamidines; D009249:NADP; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases