title: A Chinese herbal formula, Shuganyiyang capsule, improves erectile function in male rats by modulating Nos-CGMP mediators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of the Chinese herbal formula Shuganyiyang (SGYY) capsule on arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral ligation of the internal iliac artery and then divided into 4 groups (n=10 per group). They were treated daily with either sildenafil (10.5 mg/kg), or SGYY at 1 of 2 dosages (1 g/kg and 0.5 g/kg) for 30 days. Erectile function was evaluated using cavernous nerve electrical stimulation after treatment, and the cavernous tissue specimens of all animals were harvested for gene and protein examination using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of the maximal intracavernous pressure to the mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in the SGYY (1 g/kg and 0.5 g/kg) rats than that in the models (P<.01). The gene and protein expression of 3 subtypes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)--neuropathic (nNOS), inducible (iNOS), and endothelial (eNOS)--and cGMP concentrations in cavernous tissue in SGYY-treated rats were significantly higher than in the models. However, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) expression in the SGYY rats was lower than those in models (P<.01 or P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SGYY significantly improves the maximal intracavernous pressure in arteriogenic ED in a rat model. The underlying mechanism of action of SGYY involves increasing the expression of some main factors in the NOS-cGMP pathway and reducing the expression of PDE5.
authors: Center for Reproductive Sciences of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Basic Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Department of Andriatria, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Ji
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Baoxing
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Donghuan
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: Zhuojun
authors: Z
authors: Yuan
authors: Huimin
authors: H
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP