[Expression of Rho-kinase and heme oxygenase in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of Rho-kinase and heme oxygenase and the interaction among NOS/NO, HO/CO and RhoA/Rho-kinase in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs).


METHODS
A series of electric stimuli were applied to the corpus cavernosum nerves of 7 SHRs, the changes of ICP/MAP observed continuously and the expressions of ROCK2, HO-2 and eNOS analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Another 7 WKY rats were taken as controls.


RESULTS
Compared with the controls, ICP/MAP did not rise obviously (P < 0.05), HO-2 dropped sharply (P = 0.006) and the expression of the ROCK2 protein was elevated markedly (P = 0.017) in the SHRs. Immunohistochemistry showed HO-2 to be distributed in the smooth muscle cells and nervous cells of the corpus cavernosum, and eNOS mainly in the vascular endothelial cells. The expressions of HO-2 and eNOS were obviously reduced in the SHRs.


CONCLUSIONS
NOS/NO, HO/CO and RhoA/Rho-kinase are related with erectile dysfunction in SHRs and may interact on one another.
Zhu
Ping-Yu
PY
Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China. zhupy1999_2004@sohu.com
Jiang
Rui
R
Deng
Qing-Fu
QF
Wang
Xiao-Ran
XR
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D054460:rho-Associated Kinases