title: The Effect of Alcohol Administration on the Corpus Cavernosum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the effects of alcohol administration on the corpus cavernosum (CC) using an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  CC sections and the aortic ring of rabbits were used in an organ bath study. After acute alcohol administration, changes in blood alcohol concentration and electrical stimulation induced intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) percentage were compared in rats. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the CC were measured using immunoassays. After chronic alcohol administration, ICP/MAP percentage, cAMP and cGMP were compared in rats. Histological changes were examined using the Masson trichrome stain and the Sircol collagen assay. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol relaxed the CC in a dose-dependent manner, and the relaxation response was suppressed when pretreated with propranolol, indomethacin, glibenclamide, and 4-aminopyridine. In rats with acute alcohol exposure, the cAMP level in the CC was significantly greater than was observed in the control group (p<0.05). In rats with chronic alcohol exposure, however, changes in cAMP and cGMP levels were insignificant, and the CC showed markedly smaller areas of smooth muscle, greater amounts of dense collagen (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis of eNOS showed a less intense response, and western blotting showed that eNOS expression was significantly lower in this group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute alcohol administration activated the cAMP pathway with positive effects on erectile function. In contrast, chronic alcohol administration changed the ultrastructures of the CC and suppressed eNOS expression, thereby leading to erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: See Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Deok Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sin Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chunwoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Jeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ky Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea. hyunjs@gnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae Seog
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hyun
keywords: Cyclic AMP; Erectile dysfunction; Penile erection