title: Chronic ethanol consumption induces erectile dysfunction: Role of oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on erectile function and on the corpus cavernosum (CC) reactivity to endothelin-1 (ET-1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethanol-treated rats showed impaired erectile function represented by decreased intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) responses. Ethanol consumption increased the contractile response induced by ET-1 in the isolated CC. Tiron increased ET-1-induced contraction in CC from control and ethanol-treated rats. No differences in the maximal contraction to ET-1 were observed after incubation of CC with PEG-catalase. SC560 and SC236 increased ET-1-induced contraction in CC from ethanol-treated rats. Y27632 reduced the contraction induced by ET-1 in CC from control and ethanol-treated rats. Ethanol increased plasma TBARS, superoxide anion (O2(-)) levels and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the rat CC. Reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in CC and increased catalase (CAT) activity in plasma and CC were detected after treatment with ethanol. Ethanol decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the rat CC. Increased expression of COX-1 was observed in CC from ethanol-treated rats. Treatment with ethanol decreased COX-2 expression but did not alter the expression of Nox1, RhoA and p-RhoA (ser(188)) in the rat CC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major new findings of our study are that ethanol consumption induces erectile dysfunction (ED) and increases the contraction induced by ET-1 in the rat CC by a mechanism that involves decreased generation of H2O2 and vasodilator prostanoids as well as increased activation of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: crtirapelli@eerp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Jaqueline J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: De Martinis
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Tirapelli
mesh_terms: D014013:1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D019332:Endothelin-1; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013481:Superoxides; D000431:Ethanol; D014013:1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-Disulfonic Acid Disodium Salt; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2
keywords: Endothelin-1; Erectile dysfunction; Ethanol; Hydrogen peroxide; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species