Effect of chuanxiongzine on the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissues / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of chuanxiongzine on the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Observations were made on the relaxing effect of chuanxiongzine on phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted corpus cavernosum and cavernosal strips preincubated with L-NAME, and ODQ, using endothelium removal and experimental method of smooth muscle strips. The effect of chuanxiongzine on cAMP and cGMP levels in corpus cavernosum was measured by 125I radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chuanxiongzine had concentration-dependent relaxing effect on the cavernosal muscle contraction induced by PE (EC50 1.58 x 10(-4) mol/L). This relaxing effect was partially antagonized by ODQ and not blocked by L-NAME or endothelium removal. In PE-precontracted cavernosal strips, chuanxiongzine induced relaxation accompanied with an increase in cAMP and cGMP levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chuanxiongzine was effective in relaxing cavernosal muscle precontracted by PE in vitro. And its relaxing effect may be enhanced by increasing cGMP and cAMP levels in the corpus cavernosum.</p>