title: In vitroandin vivoevaluation of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng on penile erection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function usingin vitroandin vivostudies.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-β1 were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-β1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moo Yeol
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medical Food and Nutrition, Semyung University, Jecheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Omnica Co., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momoi
authors.affiliation: Omnica Co., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.affiliation: Omnica Co., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: corpus cavernosum; erectile function; mountain ginseng; nitric oxide; smooth muscle