title: Expression and functional activity of phosphodiesterase type 5 in human and rabbit vas deferens.
abstract: The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of vas deferens (VD) motility and semen emission are still poorly understood. We now report evidence on VD expression of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which regulates nitric oxide (NO)-induced relaxation and cGMP breakdown in smooth muscle cells. In human VD, the PDE5 abundance was relatively high (>3 x 10(6) molecules/microg total RNA), although 10-fold lower than in corpora cavernosa (CC). Also cGMP metabolising activity was higher in CC than in VD. However, both tissues share the same sensitivity to a broad panel of cGMP-related PDE inhibitors: sildenafil, tadalafil, dipyridamole, zaprinast, vinpocetine, EHNA and cilostamide. Based on the rank order of potency of these PDE inhibitors, we found that the cGMP metabolizing activity in human VD mostly corresponds to PDE5. PDE5 was immunolocalized in all the muscular layers of human and rabbit VD and was found to be negatively involved in regulating NO-induced relaxation. In addition, by using a rabbit model of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, we found that PDE5 gene expression and activity are androgen-dependent in VD, as previously demonstrated in CC. In fact, the sensitivity to a NO-donor (NCX4040), its enhancement by PDE5 inhibitors and the PDE5-related cGMP breakdown were all affected by androgen manipulation. Our results provide a hypothesis explaining the beneficial effects of PDE inhibitors in patients with rapid ejaculation.
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vignozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salonia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mondaini
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Vannelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; C498045:NCX 4040; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D001241:Aspirin