title: [Fasudil improves erectile function of hypertensive rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of fasudil, an inhibitor of Rho kinase, on the erectile function of hypertensive rats and its action mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty 12-week-old healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A (control), B (hypertension) and C (fasudil treatment). After establishment of the hypertension model, group C received intraperitoneal injection of fasudil at 30 mg/(kg x d), while A and B normal saline only. At 10 weeks after surgery, we measured the corpus cavernosum pressure/mean carotid arterial pressure (ICPmax / MAP), and the expression levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 proteins in the corpus cavernosum of the rats by Western-blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The systolic blood pressure (mmHg) and the expressions of ROCK1 and ROCK2 proteins were significantly increased in group B (190.39 +/- 5.07, 0.048 +/- 0.002 and 0.143 +/- 0.011) as compared with A (124.81 +/- 4.01, 0.036 +/- 0.001 and 0.101 +/- 0.011) (P<0.05), but markedly decreased in group C (182.03 +/- 4.32, 0.044 +/- 0.001 and 0.126 +/- 0.007) in comparison with B (P<0.05). ICPmax /MAP was significantly lower in group B (36.82 +/- 5.47) than in A (59.99 +/- 5.69) (P<0.05), but remarkably higher in group C (51.1 +/- 5.63) than in B (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fasudil can improve erectile function in hypertensive rats by inhibiting the expression of RhoA / Rho kinase signaling and its possible attenuating effect on hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hai-fan
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; C049347:fasudil