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Effect of hypothyroidism on the nitrergic relaxant responses of corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbits
Author(s) -
SARAC BULENT,
YILDIRIM MUSTAFA K.,
BAGCIVAN IHSAN,
KAYA KEMAL,
KILICARSLAN HAKAN,
YILDIRIM SAHIN
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1442-2042
pISSN - 0919-8172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2006.01225.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , sodium nitroprusside , carbachol , contraction (grammar) , phenylephrine , nitric oxide , papaverine , vasodilation , stimulation , blood pressure
Background: The incidence of hormonal dysfunction as a cause of impotence remains controversial. However, several recent studies have reported evidence of hormonal abnormalities in 25–35% of impotent men. Hypothyroidism has been reported to occur in 6% of impotent men. Methods: In the present study, we examined nitrergic responses in hypothyroidism in rabbit corpus cavernosum and compared them with controls. Results: Carbachol‐induced relaxation responses and electrical field stimulation (EFS)‐induced frequency‐dependent relaxations decreased significantly in hypothyroid rabbits. Papaverine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)‐induced relaxation responses did not change significantly in hypothyroid rabbits. The contraction responses of phenylephrine and EFS‐induced frequency‐dependent contractions were significantly decreased in the hypothyroid group. Conclusions: We can speculate that the reduction of relaxant responses to EFS and carbachol in hypothyroid rabbits can depend on a decreased release of nitric oxide (NO) from nitrergic nerves and endothelium or a reduction of muscarinic receptor density. Also, decreases in contraction responses may depend on diminished adrenoceptor density.