Analysis of pomegranate juice components in rat corpora cavernosal relaxation.

This study evaluated the action of pomegranate juice (PJ) and its five principal phenolic constituents on rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM). Isometric tension studies were performed after precontraction with phenylephrine in CCSM from rats. Relaxant responses to PJ and its constituents ellagic acid (EA), chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cumaric acid and rutin were investigated. PJ and EA caused CCSM relaxations (94.1 ± 3.7 and 51.3 ± 9.9%), while others induced limited relaxant responses. EA response was not inhibited by L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (100 µM) and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (1 µM). Tetraethylammonium (100 µM) and apamin (10 µM) and nifedipine (10 µM) inhibited EA-induced relaxations at 10(-3) M by 84%, 82% and 78%, respectively. Glibenclamide (10 µM) inhibited EA response (97%, 100 µM). PJ-induced relaxation was not altered by several inhibitors. EA was estimated to be responsible for 13.3% of relaxation caused by PJ. Our study demonstrated that PJ and EA-induced marked relaxations in CCSM. The opening of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels and the inhibition of Ca(2+)-channels regulate the relaxation by EA, but not PJ. EA has a minor contribution to the marked relaxation obtained by PJ, suggesting the presence of other PJ constituents, which induce nitric oxide-independent corporal relaxation. Further studies are needed to examine the potential of PJ in combination with a PDE5 inhibitor in ED.

Is there a concordance between carotid and penile cavernosal artery intima-media thickness in patients with erectile dysfunction?

This study aimed to investigate the predictive accuracy of carotid and cavernosal Doppler ultrasound findings for discriminating patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). Fifty patients with complaints of ED were included. B-mode ultrasound of bilateral carotid arteries were performed and peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and intima-media thickness (IMT) values were measured. Afterwards, corresponding values of cavernosal arteries were obtained by penile color duplex ultrasonography (P-CDU). Of total 50 patients, 29 (58%) were included in vasculogenic ED group and 21 (42%) in non-vasculogenic ED group according to P-CDU findings. There was a significant difference between groups for cavernosal IMT (P=0.012) but not for carotid IMT (P=0.601). When patients were reclassified according to carotid IMT values (IMT of the first group <0.9 mm and the second ≥0.9 mm), carotid PSV and EDV values were different (P=0.033 and 0.018, respectively). Cavernosal PSV and EDV displayed no difference (P=0.816 and 0.123) while cavernosal IMT and percent change of cavernosal caliper were significantly different (P=0.014 and 0.018). Carotid PSV and EDV successfully mirrored respective measurements in cavernosal artery. However, carotid IMT failed to demonstrate such a correlation. Cavernosal IMT seems promising as an additional tool in the evaluation of cavernosal function.