| 19362348 |
Yildiz O, Seyrek M, Irkilata HC, Yildirim I, Tahmaz L, Dayanc M: Testosterone might cause relaxation of human corpus cavernosum by potassium channel opening action. Urology. 2009 Jul;74(1):229-32. Epub 2009 Apr 10.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of testosterone on contractile tone of endothelium-denuded human corpus cavernosum strips. Human studies designed to examine a possible relaxant effect of testosterone on corpus cavernosal circulation are lacking. METHODS: Testosterone (0.1-300 microM) was added cumulatively to organ baths after precontraction of isolated human corpus cavernosum strips (n = 5) with KCl (45 mM). Testosterone-induced responses were tested in the presence of nonselective, large, conductance Ca (2+)-activated and voltage-sensitive K (+) channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium (1 mM), adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K (+) channel inhibitor glibenclamide (10 microM), voltage-dependent inward rectifier K (+) channel inhibitor barium chloride (30 microM) and voltage-sensitive K (+) channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). RESULTS: Testosterone (0.1-300 microM) produced relaxation in human corpus cavernosum (maximum relaxation 65.4% +/- 3.3% of KCl-induced contraction) that reached a maximum at a concentration of 300 microM. Testosterone-induced relaxation was significantly attenuated by glibenclamide, but it was not affected by the other K (+) channel inhibitors (tetraethylammonium, barium chloride, or 4-aminopyridine). CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone might induce relaxation in human isolated corpora cavernosa strips by activation of smooth muscle adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K (+) channels. This finding suggests that testosterone, in addition to its known endothelial action, might regulate erectile function locally by its action on the smooth muscle of the human corpus cavernosum. |
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