title: [Expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats in order to further study the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly divided 72 male SD rats into four groups: normal control, sham operation, castration, and castration + ZnPP. We detected intracavernous pressure (ICP) and penile erection in the basic condition and after apomorphine (APO) induction, determined the expression of the HO-2 protein in the corpus cavernosum by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and measured the level of CO by spectrophotometry during different periods of penile erection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICP in the basic condition and that after APO induction and the rate of penile erection were decreased significantly in the castration group ([11.68 ± 0.69] mmHg, [54.81 ± 3.86] mmHg, and 33.3%) and the castration + ZnPP group ([11.20 ± 0.71] mmHg, [41.17 ± 5.41] mmHg, and 22.2%) as compared with the normal control ([22.83 ± 2.66] mmHg, [66.92 ± 7.77] mm-Hg, and 100%) and the sham operation group ([23.35 ±2.22] mmHg, [70.43 ?7. 22] mmHg, and 100%) (all P <0. 01). After APO induction, ICP in the castration + ZnPP group was remarkably reduced in comparison with that in the castration group (P < 0.01), and so was the expression of the HO-2 protein before and during penile erection in the castration (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) and the castration + ZnPP group (390.1 ± 29.7 and 526.0 ± 52.5) compared with the normal control (512.7 ±57.4 and 1145.2 ± 89.8) and the sham operation group (583.7 ± 8.0 and 1016.3 ± 79.8), the expression of the HO-2 protein significantly decreased in the castration group (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), markedly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01) but with no significant differences among the four groups after it. Before, during and after penile erection, the levels of CO were remarkably decreased in the castration ([20.59 ± 1.01], [32.53 ± 1.26], and [18.71 ± 1.22] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the castration +ZnPP group ([12.52 ± 1.05], [21.90 ± 1.02], and [16.56 ± 0.55] x 10(-7) nmol/L) as compared with the normal control ([26.76 ± 1.41], [48.25 ± 1.01], and [27.10 ± 1.58 ] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the sham operation group ([25.41 ± 2.09], [ 47.90 ± 1.22], and [25.67 ± 1.20] x 10(-7) nmol/L) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), significantly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased expressions of HO-2 and CO may correlate with erectile dysfunction in castrated rats.
authors.forename: Bai-xin
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.lastname: Wang Shu-qiu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Hong-bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D001058:Apomorphine