[Expression of heme oxygenase in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of heme oxygenase (HO) in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats and to investigate its role in androgen deficiency-mediated erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
Forty 10-week old SD rats were randomly divided into Groups A (2-week sham operation), B (4-week sham operation), C (2-week castrated) and D (4-week castrated). The serum testosterone level was determined, and the expressions of HO and nNOS in the corpus cavernosum of the castrated rats were detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR 2 and 4 weeks after the operation.


RESULTS
Compared with the sham operation groups, the castrated rats showed a significant reduction in the level of serum testosterone, (A vs. C: [283.222 +/- 117.171] ng/dl vs. [7.117 +/- 3.700] ng/ dl; B vs. D: [289.280 +/- 87.413] ng/dl vs [48.826 +/- 19.477] ng/dl) (P < 0.01), the expressions of HO-1 and HO-2 proteins (P < 0.01) and the expressions of HO-1, HO-2 and nNOS mRNA (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Androgen can partly regulate the erectile function of the penis via the HO-CO system.
Liu
Jing
J
Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China. 020810908@163.com
Jiang
Rui
R
D000818:Animals; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010413:Penis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013739:Testosterone; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)