The effects of interleukin-6 on the contraction and relaxation responses of the cavernous smooth muscle from rats.
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of IL-6 on the vasomotor reactivity of the corpus cavernosum of the rats. The strips were either left untreated or treated with 1 ng/ml of IL-6 for 60 min. By increasing concentrations of phenylephrine, acetylcholine, or sodium nitroprusside, we assessed concentration-contraction or relaxation responses. The IL-6-treated strips were incubated for 30 min with or without L-NAME (N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), L-arginine, indomethacin, BQ-123 (an endothelin receptor A inhibitor), or SQ 29,548 (a thromboxane A(2) [TXA(2)] receptor blocker), and the effects on phenylephrine-induced contraction or acetylcholine-induced relaxation of phenylephrine-induced contraction were measured. The contractile responses to phenylephrine were significantly enhanced in the IL-6-treated strips, compared with the IL-6-nontreated strips, and the relaxation responses to acetylcholine were significantly inhibited in the IL-6-treated group compared with the IL-6-nontreated group. But after endothelial denudation, there was no difference between the IL-6-treated strips and the IL-6-nontreated strips on the contraction-relaxation responses to phenylephrine or acetylcholine. The relaxation responses to sodium nitroprusside were not inhibited in both groups. L-NAME completely inhibited the relaxation response to acetylcholine in the IL-6-treated strips, as well as the IL-6-nontreated strips. Indomethacin and SQ 29,548 significantly inhibited the increased contractile responses to phenylephrine in the IL-6-treated strips. But BQ 123 rarely affected the same responses. L-arginine reversed the inhibited relaxation responses to acetylcholine in the IL-6-treated strips. Therefore, IL-6 inhibits endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated relaxation and also enhances alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor-mediated contraction via an endothelium-dependent TXA(2)-mediated mechanism in the corpus cavernosum of the rat.
Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Soon Chul
SC
Myung
June Hyun
JH
Han
Kee Keun
KK
Song
Gun Hyun
GH
Kang
Shin Young
SY
Lee
Tae Hyoung
TH
Kim
Moo Yeol
MY
Lee
Hyun Woo
HW
Kim
Sae-Chul
SC
Kim
D000818:Animals; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D016232:Endothelins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases