[Effects of icariin on intracavernosal pressure and systematic arterial blood pressure of rat].
OBJECTIVE
To realize the effect of icariin on erectile function of penis.


METHODS
After the cavernous nerve (CN) of rat was isolated unilaterally, the corpora cavernosa (CC) and right carotid artery were exposed. A 26G needle catheter was inserted into the right CC to monitor the intracavernous pressure (ICP), and another 26G needle catheter was inserted into the left CC for drug administration. Another catheter was placed into the carotid artery to monitor mean systematic arterial blood press (MBp). Icariin of different concentrations was administrated intracavernosally, and the ICP and MBp were recorded during electric stimulation on CN. Sildenafil and papaveine were used as controls. The effects of nitric oxide syntheses (NOS) inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA), and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo [4,3,-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) on icariin (10(-4)mol/L) induced ICP changes were investigated also.


RESULTS
Icariin, sidenafil and papaverine increased the ICP in a dose-depended manner (P < 0.01). Icariin and sildenafil did not influence the MBp (P > 0.05), however, papaverine significant influenced MBp (P < 0.01). EC(50) of Icariin, sildenafil and papaveine on ICP/MBp were 2.23 micro mol/L, 0.24 micro mol/L and 9.73 micro mol/L respectively. ODQ and LNNA significantly decreased ICP induced by icariin (10(-4)mol/L).


CONCLUSIONS
Icariin increases ICP without influence on MBp and such effect is inhibited by LNNA and ODQ significantly. Icariin regulates the activity of NO-cGMP signal pathway on CC to enhance erectile function by oral therapy.
Department of Urology, People's Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Long
L
Tian
Zhong-cheng
ZC
Xin
Yi-ming
YM
Yuan
Jie
J
Fu
Wu-jiang
WJ
Liu
Ling-long
LL
Wang
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010208:Papaverine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011312:Pressure; D011687:Purines; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones
C095284:1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one; D005419:Flavonoids; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013450:Sulfones; D019335:Nitroarginine; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D010208:Papaverine; C056599:icariin