title: [Aging reduces contents of endogenous CO, cAMP and cGMP in rat penile tissues].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship of aging with the changes of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO), cGMP and cAMP contents in the penile tissues of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four male rats were equally divided into an 8-month, a 16-month and a 24-month group, and their penile erection was detected by injecting apomorphine, their penile cavernous body harvested, and the contents of CO, cAPM and cGMP detected by improved dual wavelength spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contents of CO, cAPM and cGMP were reduced with the increase of age, with statistically significant differences between the three age groups (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging significantly decreased the contents of CO, cAMP and cGMP in the penile tissues of the rats, which suggests that aging might play an important role in erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154007, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Shu-Qiu
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Shi-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Bao-Jin
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chi