What is the role of unripe Rubus coreanus extract on penile erection?
The effect of unripe Rubus coreanus extract on rabbit penile corpus cavernosum (PCC) was evaluated. Penises were obtained from healthy male New Zealand white rabbits (2.5-3.0 kg). The pre-contracted penis with phenylephrine (Phe, 10 μM) was treated with various concentrations of an extract of unripe R. coreanus (0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/mL). The change in penile tension was recorded, cyclic nucleotides in the perfusate and the PCC were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the perfused PCC were measured by western blotting. The interaction between unripe R. coreanus and sildenafil was also evaluated. The PCC relaxation induced by the extracts of R. coreanus was in a concentration-dependent manner and enhanced sildenafil-induced PCC relaxation. The perfusion of penile cavernous tissue with the unripe R. coreanus extract increased cGMP and cAMP in the tissue and in the perfusate and the expression of eNOS and nNOS in the tissue. The unripe R. coreanus extract exerts a relaxing effect on penile cavernous tissue in part by activating the NO-cGMP system and it may improve erectile dysfunction (ED), which does not completely respond to sildenafil citrate.
Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 561-712, South Korea.
Chen
C
Zhao
Hye Kyung
HK
Kim
Sung Zoo
SZ
Kim
Han Jung
HJ
Chae
Wan Shou
WS
Cui
Sung Won
SW
Lee
Ju Hong
JH
Jeon
Jong Kwan
JK
Park
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010879:Piperazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III