BACKGROUND/AIM To investigate the effects of spermine NONOate in the cavernous tissue obtained from mice treated or untreated with sildenafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the effects of spermine NONOate on the tone and nitrergic relaxation responses of isolated mouse corpus cavernosum and compared them with sodium nitroprusside in the absence or presence of L-nitroarginine, hydroxocobala...

Our aim was to study a role of nitrergic input in gastric relaxation in conscious dogs. Proximal gastric motor responses to mechanical distension and chemical stimulation (a lipid meal orally) were evaluated by electronic barostat. Effect of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA, 5 mg/kg) on these responses was studied. When mechanical stimulation was applied, we observed steep linear incr...

The human colon can dilate, often to life-threatening proportions. Our aim was to explore nitrergic mechanisms underlying colonic dilation in conscious dogs with enterically isolated ileocolonic loops either extrinsically innervated (n = 4) or extrinsically denervated (n = 4). We recorded phasic pressures in ileum and ileocolonic sphincter (ICS), colonic tone, compliance, and relaxation during ...

The incidence of urinary bladder disturbances increases with age, and free radical accumulation has been proposed as a causal factor. Here we investigated the association between changes in bladder neuromuscular function and oxidative stress in aging and the possible benefits of melatonin treatment. Neuromuscular function was assessed by electrical field stimulation (EFS) of isolated guinea pig...

Using both NADPH diaphorase and anti-nNOS antibodies, we have identified-from retinal flatmounts-neuronal types in the inner retina of the chicken that are likely to be nitrergic. The two methods gave similar results and yielded a total of 15 types of neurons, comprising 9 amacrine cells, 5 ganglion cells, and 1 centrifugal midbrain neuron. Six of these 15 cell types are ubiquitously distribute...