[Effects of growth hormone supplementation on erectile function and expression of nNOS in aging rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of growth hormone( GH) supplementation on erectile function and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves in aging rats.


METHODS
Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 18 months were randomly divided into Groups A and B, and ten 2-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats included in Group C. 1 U/(kg x d) GH was given to Group A, and the same volume of saline to Groups B and C. After 8 weeks of treatment, evaluation was made of the erections induced by apomorphine (APO), maximal intracavernous pressure (ICP) induced by intracavernous papaverine injection and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves by streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical techniques.


RESULTS
After 8 weeks of treatment, the erection frequency, maximal ICP and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves of the rats in Groups A and C were significantly higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Growth hormone supplementation can improve the erectile function of aging rats, which may be attributed to the increase in the expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves.
Zhang
Xian-Sheng
XS
Department of Andrology, Affiliated Renji Hospital of Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai Institute of Andrology, Shanghai 200001, China. xiansheng-zhang@163.com
Wang
Yi-Xin
YX
Han
Yin-Fa
YF
Li
Zheng
Z
Xiang
Zu-Qiong
ZQ
Leng
Jing
J
Huang
Xu-Yuan
XY
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010208:Papaverine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D013006:Growth Hormone; D010208:Papaverine; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D001058:Apomorphine