Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) play key roles in cGMP signaling. PDE5 has a catalytic domain (C domain) that hydrolyzes cGMP and a regulatory domain (R domain) that binds cGMP at allosteric sites. We recently demonstrated that in corpus cavernosum, PDE5 concentration exceeds basal cGMP by ~5-fold making it possible that its allosteric sites could bind a signi...

The aim of the present study is two fold. Firstly, to determine if the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway can modulate spontaneous transient inward and outward currents (STICs and STOCs), in rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Secondly, to see if nitric oxide can effect intracellular calcium oscillations observed in these cells. Male New Zealand white rabbits were humanely killed with an inject...

We have previously demonstrated that decreased O2 tension inhibits prostaglandin synthesis from human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in static culture over 8-18 h (R. B. Moreland et al., Molecular Urology 2: 41-47, 1998). In this report, an experimental system was designed that allowed determination of the effects of O2 tension changes over the time frame of physiological penile erection...

This study was initiated to characterize nonadrenergic-noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmission in penile corpus cavernosum. Using organ baths, isometric tension measurements were made in strips ofhuman and rabbit corpus cavernosum. In examining endothelium-mediated responses, cumulative additions of exogenous acetylcholine elicited dose-dependent relaxations which were significantly ...