title: Effects of resveratrol on the alterations of cavernosal eNOS and LOX-1 expression in the hypercholesterolemic condition: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resveratrol on the alterations of cavernosal eNOS and LOX-1 mRNA expression in the hypercholesterolemic condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one New Zealand white male rabbits were separated into three groups. Rabbits were fed with a normal dietary intake for the control group and a 2% cholesterol diet for the hypercholesterolemia and resveratrol groups for 6 weeks. Resveratrol 4 mg/kg daily was administered for the resveratrol group. Cavernosal LOX-1 and eNOS mRNA expressions were determined with real-time RT-PCR in all groups. The statistical analysis was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no difference between mean LOX-1 mRNA expression levels in the three groups. Lower mean eNOS mRNA expression level was determined in the hypercholesterolemia group when compared with the control group (P = 0.011). Mean eNOS mRNA expression level in the resveratrol group was similar to that in the control group but significantly higher than that in the hypercholesterolemia group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study demonstrates the beneficial effects of resveratrol on cavernosal eNOS expression. The presence of cavernosal LOX-1 expression was also shown for the first time. Resveratrol may be an alternative option in hypercholesterolemic erectile dysfunction with further studies supporting its beneficial effects on the corpus cavernosum.
authors: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Ozan
authors: O
authors: Bozkurt
authors: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Aykut
authors: A
authors: Kefi
authors: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Ömer
authors: Ö
authors: Demir
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Nergis
authors: N
authors: Murat
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Sedef
authors: S
authors: Gidener
authors: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Ahmet Adil
authors: AA
authors: Esen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010413:Penis; D011817:Rabbits; D000077185:Resveratrol; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E; D013267:Stilbenes
chemical_list: D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E; D013267:Stilbenes; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: Hypercholesterolemia; LOX-1; eNOS; erectile dysfunction; resveratrol