Effect of berberine on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rat corpus cavernosum

Abstract

In order to further investigate the mechanisms of action of berberine (Ber), we assessed the effects of Ber on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in rat corpus cavernosum. After incubation with Ber for 1 or 3 h respectively, the levels of NOS mRNA were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that there were iNOS and eNOS mRNA expression in rat corpus cavernosum. Ber enhanced eNOS mRNA expression in rat penis, but exhibited no effect on the expression of iNOS mRNA (P>0.05). The present study indicated that the relaxation of Ber involved the NO-cGMP signal thansduction pathway. The enhancing effect of Ber on eNOS mRNA expression might associated with its relaxation of corpus cavernosum.

Keywords

berberine / nitric oxide synthase / nitric oxide / corpus cavernosum / erectile dysfunction

References

[1] HosogaiN, TakakuraS, MandaT, et al. . Enzyme activities of the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway in corpus cavernosum isolated from middle-aged rats. Eur J Pharmacol, 2003, 47365-65

[2] KimN N, HuangY H, GoldsteinI, et al. . Inhibition of cyclic GMP hydrolysis in human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells by vardenafil, a novel, selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Life Sci, 2001, 692249-2249

[3] CorbinD J, FrancisH S, WebbJ D. Phosphodiesterase type 5 as a pharmacology targen in erectile dysfunction. Urology, 2002, 604-4

[4] Ganzalez-CadavidN F, IgnarroL J, RajferJ. Nitric oxide and the cyclic GMP system in the penis. Mol Urol, 1999, 351-51

[5] ChancellorM B, TirneyS, MattesC E, et al. . Nitric oxide synthase gene transfer for erectile dysfunction in a rat model. BJU International, 2003, 91691-691

[6] GonzalezC M, BranniganR E, BervigT, et al. . Protein and gene expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms I and III in the rat penile shaft. J Androl., 2001, 2254-54

[7] PadlasekC A, ZelnerR J, BervigT R, et al. . Characterization and localization of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the BB/WOR diabetic rat. J Urol, 2001, 166746-746

[8] BivalacqueT J, ChampionH C, MehtaY S, et al. . Adenoviral gene transfer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to the penis improves age-related erectile dysfunction in the rat. Int J Impot Res, 2000, 128-8

[9] HurtK J, MusickiB, PaleseM A, et al. . Akt-dependent phosphorylation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase mediates penile erection. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 2002, 994061-4061

[10] SoderlingS H, BeavoJ A. Regualtion of cAMP and cGMP signaling: new phosphodiesterases and new functions. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 2000, 12174-174

[11] LinC S, LinA, TuR, et al. . Expression of three isoforms of cGMP-binding cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5) in human penile cavernosum. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2000, 268628-628

[12] NIH Consensus Conference, Development panel on impotence, JAMA, 1993, 270: 83

[13] ImonsenU, García-SacristánA, PrietoD. penile arteries and erection. J Vasc Res, 2002, 39283-283

[14] MaxM, EscrigA, Gonzalez-MoraJ L. In vivo electrochemical measurement of nitric oxide in corpus cavernosum penis. J Neuroscience, 2002, 119143-143

[15] NangleM R, CotterM A, CameronN E. An in vitro study of corpus cavernosum and aorta from mice lacking the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. Nitric Oxide, 2003, 9194-194