Abstract
The erectile response of the penis depends on a balance between vasoconstrictor agents which cause cavernosal smooth muscle to contract limiting blood inflow, and vasodilators which relax cavernosal smooth muscle leading to increased blood inflow and erection. This review emphasizes the role of vasoconstrictors in the penis and shows that both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the α-adrenergic agonist, methoxamine (METHOX) exert strong vasoconstrictor actions in the cavernosal circulation. We recently reported the vasoconstrictor actions of exogenous ET-1 and METHOX to be mediated by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the cavernosal circulation. While it is widely held that the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP-protein kinase G (NO-cGMP-PKG) pathway mediates vasorelaxation and penile erection, the interaction between this pathway and the vasoconstrictor process remains to be fully elucidated. Our studies also have shown that, during erection, the vasoconstrictor action of METHOX and ET-1 are inhibited and that NO is likely responsible for this inhibition. We hypothesize that the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway controls erection by acting in two distinct ways—by lowering intracellular levels of calcium leading to vasorelaxation and by inhibiting Rho-kinase mediated vasoconstriction.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S29-S34 |
| Journal | International Journal of Impotence Research |
| Volume | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2001 |
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Keywords
- A-adrenergic agonist
- Endothelin-1
- Nitric oxide
- Penile erection
- Rho-kinase
- Vasoconstriction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology
Cite this
Vasoconstrictors in erectile physiology. / Mills, T. M.; Chitaley, K.; Lewis, Ronald W.
In: International Journal of Impotence Research, Vol. 13, 01.01.2001, p. S29-S34.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Vasoconstrictors in erectile physiology
AU - Mills, T. M.
AU - Chitaley, K.
AU - Lewis, Ronald W
PY - 2001/1/1
Y1 - 2001/1/1
N2 - The erectile response of the penis depends on a balance between vasoconstrictor agents which cause cavernosal smooth muscle to contract limiting blood inflow, and vasodilators which relax cavernosal smooth muscle leading to increased blood inflow and erection. This review emphasizes the role of vasoconstrictors in the penis and shows that both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the α-adrenergic agonist, methoxamine (METHOX) exert strong vasoconstrictor actions in the cavernosal circulation. We recently reported the vasoconstrictor actions of exogenous ET-1 and METHOX to be mediated by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the cavernosal circulation. While it is widely held that the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP-protein kinase G (NO-cGMP-PKG) pathway mediates vasorelaxation and penile erection, the interaction between this pathway and the vasoconstrictor process remains to be fully elucidated. Our studies also have shown that, during erection, the vasoconstrictor action of METHOX and ET-1 are inhibited and that NO is likely responsible for this inhibition. We hypothesize that the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway controls erection by acting in two distinct ways—by lowering intracellular levels of calcium leading to vasorelaxation and by inhibiting Rho-kinase mediated vasoconstriction.
AB - The erectile response of the penis depends on a balance between vasoconstrictor agents which cause cavernosal smooth muscle to contract limiting blood inflow, and vasodilators which relax cavernosal smooth muscle leading to increased blood inflow and erection. This review emphasizes the role of vasoconstrictors in the penis and shows that both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the α-adrenergic agonist, methoxamine (METHOX) exert strong vasoconstrictor actions in the cavernosal circulation. We recently reported the vasoconstrictor actions of exogenous ET-1 and METHOX to be mediated by the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the cavernosal circulation. While it is widely held that the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP-protein kinase G (NO-cGMP-PKG) pathway mediates vasorelaxation and penile erection, the interaction between this pathway and the vasoconstrictor process remains to be fully elucidated. Our studies also have shown that, during erection, the vasoconstrictor action of METHOX and ET-1 are inhibited and that NO is likely responsible for this inhibition. We hypothesize that the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway controls erection by acting in two distinct ways—by lowering intracellular levels of calcium leading to vasorelaxation and by inhibiting Rho-kinase mediated vasoconstriction.
KW - A-adrenergic agonist
KW - Endothelin-1
KW - Nitric oxide
KW - Penile erection
KW - Rho-kinase
KW - Vasoconstriction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035670429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035670429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900774
DO - 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900774
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - S29-S34
JO - International Journal of Impotence Research
JF - International Journal of Impotence Research
SN - 0955-9930
ER -