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Y‐27632, an inhibitor of Rho‐kinase, antagonizes noradrenergic contractions in the rabbit and human penile corpus cavernosum
Author(s) -
Rees Rowland W,
Ralph David J,
Royle Michael,
Moncada Salvador,
Cellek Selim
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704124
Subject(s) - guanethidine , phenylephrine , rho associated protein kinase , endocrinology , medicine , penis , stimulation , muscle contraction , chemistry , rho kinase inhibitor , kinase , anatomy , blood pressure , biochemistry
We have examined the effect of an inhibitor of Rho‐kinase, (+)‐( R )‐ trans ‐4‐(1‐aminoethyl)‐ N ‐(4‐pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride monohydrate (Y‐27632), on the contractions elicited by noradrenergic nerve stimulation and by phenylephrine in the human and rabbit penile corpus cavernosum. In both tissues, after treatment with scopolamine (10 μ M ) and N G ‐nitro‐ L ‐arginine methyl ester ( L ‐NAME; 300 μ M ), electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited noradrenergic contractions. These contractions were inhibited by Y‐27632 in a concentration‐dependent manner. The compound caused concentration‐dependent relaxation of phenylephrine‐contracted tissues, which were treated with scopolamine (10 μ M ), guanethidine (10 μ M ) and L ‐NAME (300 μ M ). These results suggest that Rho‐kinase is involved in noradrenergic contractile pathway in the cavernosal smooth muscle of the penis. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 133 , 455–458; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704124