Antioxidant properties of berberine on cultured rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells injured by hydrogen peroxide.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antioxidant properties of berberine (Ber) on corpus cavenosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in penile erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
We examined the effects of Ber on cultured rabbit CCSMC damaged by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through examining cell viability by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and assessing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, nitric oxide (NO) products, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in cells after stimulation with H2O2.


RESULTS
Treatment with 1 mmol/L H2O2 significantly decreased the cell viability, NO products, and SOD activity of CCSMC from 100% to 48.57%+/-4.1% (P<0.01), 66.8+/-16.3 to 6.7+/-2.1 micromol/L (P<0.01), and 49.5+/-1.8 to 30.1+/-2.6 U/mL (P<0.01), respectively, and increased LDH release and MDA content from 497.6+/-69.5 to 1100.5+/-56.3 U/L (P<0.01) and 3.7+/-1.3 to 78.4+/-2.9 nmol/mg protein (P<0.01), respectively. However, treatment with different concentrations of Ber (10-1000 micromol/L) inhibited the damaging effects of H2O2, with increased cell viability (P<0.05 or P<0.01), NO production (P<0.01), and SOD activity (P<0.01) and decreased LDH release and MDA content (both P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Ber could produce its antioxidant action on oxidative stress-induced cultured CCSMC. These effects may be of benefit in the prevention of penile erectile dysfunction.
Tan
Yan
Y
Institute of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Yunyang Medical College, Shiyan 442000, China. coolingtan@yahoo.com.cn
Tang
Qiang
Q
Hu
Ben-rong
BR
Xiang
Ji-zhou
JZ
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits
D000975:Antioxidants; D001599:Berberine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide