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Localization of Androgen Receptor in Nitric Oxide Synthase‐ and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide‐Containing Neurons of the Major Pelvic Ganglion Innervating the Rat Penis
Author(s) -
Schirar A.,
Chang C.,
Rousseau J. P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.1997.00557.x
Subject(s) - vasoactive intestinal peptide , nitric oxide synthase , endocrinology , medicine , ganglion , nitric oxide , androgen receptor , penis , androgen , biology , receptor , anatomy , neuropeptide , hormone , prostate cancer , cancer
Neurons of the rat major pelvic ganglia provide innervation to the pelvic organs and external genitalia. In these ganglia, a subpopulation of neurons containing either nitric oxide synthase or vasoactive intestinal peptide or both molecules, is involved in penile erection. The androgen dependence of penile erection is a well established fact. After castration, decreased testosterone levels have been documented to produce erectile dysfunction possibly resulting from functional alterations in major pelvic ganglion neurons. It was therefore of interest to investigate the presence of androgen receptor within these ganglionic neurons.