C-S Lin1, H-C Ho, K-C Chen, G Lin, L Nunes, T F Lue. 1. Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. clin@urol.ucsf.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify genes that are affected by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as an intracavernosal injection with VEGF improved the recovery of erectile function in a rat model of arteriogenic impotence, specifically examining the three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes, nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats had their pudendal arteries ligated or underwent a sham operation. They were then treated by an intracavernosal injection with 4 microg of VEGF in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PBS alone. At 6 and 24 h after treatment electrostimulation was applied to the cavernosal nerve and the intracorporal pressure measured. The erectile tissue was then harvested for RNA isolation and cryo-sectioning. The isolated RNA was used for microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, and the tissue sections for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Microarray analysis detected nNOS, eNOS and iNOS at very low expression levels in PBS-treated rats; expression levels were higher for eNOS and iNOS in all VEGF-treated rats. These results were further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis identified the cavernosal endothelium and smooth muscle as the tissue types where eNOS and iNOS were up-regulated, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the induction of both eNOS and iNOS in the penis after intracavernosal VEGF. These events may help support a significant recovery of erectile function after interrupting the blood supply to the penis.
OBJECTIVE: To identify genes that are affected by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as an intracavernosal injection with VEGF improved the recovery of erectile function in a rat model of arteriogenic impotence, specifically examining the three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes, nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats had their pudendal arteries ligated or underwent a sham operation. They were then treated by an intracavernosal injection with 4 microg of VEGF in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PBS alone. At 6 and 24 h after treatment electrostimulation was applied to the cavernosal nerve and the intracorporal pressure measured. The erectile tissue was then harvested for RNA isolation and cryo-sectioning. The isolated RNA was used for microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, and the tissue sections for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Microarray analysis detected nNOS, eNOS and iNOS at very low expression levels in PBS-treated rats; expression levels were higher for eNOS and iNOS in all VEGF-treated rats. These results were further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis identified the cavernosal endothelium and smooth muscle as the tissue types where eNOS and iNOS were up-regulated, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the induction of both eNOS and iNOS in the penis after intracavernosal VEGF. These events may help support a significant recovery of erectile function after interrupting the blood supply to the penis.
Authors: Yun-Ching Huang; Hongxiu Ning; Alan W Shindel; Thomas M Fandel; Guiting Lin; Ahmed M Harraz; Tom F Lue; Ching-Shwun Lin Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2010-02-05 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Xuefeng Qiu; Guiting Lin; Zhongcheng Xin; Ludovic Ferretti; Haiyang Zhang; Tom F Lue; Ching-Shwun Lin Journal: J Sex Med Date: 2012-12-17 Impact factor: 3.802