[Effect of thyroid hormone on the contents of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the contents of NOS and endogenous CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of Wistar rat models of hyperthyroid and hypothyroid, to detect the effects of thyroid hormone and endogenous CO on rat penile erection, and to further investigate the influence of thyroid hormone on human penile erection.


METHODS
Fifty 3-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups: a hyperthyroid, a hyperthyroid treatment, a hypothyroid, a hypothyroid treatment and a control group. The contents of NOS and CO were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
Compared with the controls, the content of NOS was significantly decreased in both the hyperthyroid and the hypothyroid groups (P < 0.01), even lower in the latter than in the former (P < 0.01), and so was the content of CO (P < 0.01), lower in the former than in the latter (P < 0.01). After treatment, the levels of NOS and CO were both elevated in either the hyperthyroid or the hypothyroid group, with no significant difference from that of the controls (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The contents of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum decrease with the imbalance of thyroid hormones, but return to normal once the imbalance is corrected. Under the same conditions, hypothyroid inflicts more damage on penile erection than hyperthyroid.
Hu
Cun-Li
CL
Department of Urology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, China. jmsdx_hcl@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Ya-Dong
YD
Liu
Hong-Tao
HT
Qin
Wen-Bo
WB
Wang
Guo-Zheng
GZ
D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase