title: Expression and distribution of phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in the human male urethra.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression and distribution of phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes PDE1A, PDE2A, PDE4A, PDE4B, and PDE5A in human urethral tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of penile urethra were obtained from male subjects who had undergone male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. Using immunohistochemistry (immunofluorescence), the occurrence of PDE1A, PDE2A, PDE4A, PDE4B, and PDE5A, the neuronal nitric oxide synthase, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was examined in urethral sections. Cytosolic supernatants prepared from isolated human urethral tissue were subjected to Western blot analysis using specific anti-PDE antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunosignals specific for PDE1A, 4A, 4B, and 5A were observed in the urethral smooth musculature. The smooth muscle bundles were seen innervated by slender nerve fibers, characterized by the expression of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The expression of the PDE isoenzymes mentioned was confirmed by Western blotting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide evidence for a significance of both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling in the control of human urethral smooth muscle. The selective inhibition of PDE isoenzymes might represent a pharmacologic option to influence the function of smooth musculature in the human outflow region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Division of Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: kedia.george@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Kedia
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Division of Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Urological Research Unit, Institute for Biochemical Research and Analysis, Barsinghausen am Deister, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ückert
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Division of Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oelke
authors.affiliation: Urological Research Unit, Institute for Biochemical Research and Analysis, Barsinghausen am Deister, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sonnenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Division of Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kuczyk
authors.affiliation: Urological Research Institute, University Vita Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hedlund
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D054677:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D054678:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / Q000032:analysis*; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000032:analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014521:Urethra / Q000201:enzymology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D054677:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 1; D054678:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; C517265:PDE1A protein, human; C517275:PDE2A protein, human; C517355:PDE4A protein, human; C517360:PDE4B protein, human; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide