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Liu G, Liu J, Kong X, Xiong WJ, Jiang R. Effect of hypoandrogenism on expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid channels in rat penile corpus cavernosum and erectile function. J Sex Med 2023; 20:1153-1160. [PMID: 37490314 DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdad093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoandrogenism is a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and relaxation are regulated by TRPV1-4 channels. However, the influence of hypoandrogenism on TRPV1-4 and its relationship with erectile function remain unclear. AIM To reveal whether hypoandrogenism affects erectile function by influencing TRPV1-4 expression in the corpus cavernosum of rats. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 36) aged 8 weeks were assigned to 6 groups at random (n = 6): sham operation, castrated, castrated + testosterone replacement, sham operation + transfection, castrated + transfection, and castrated + empty transfection. Four weeks after castration, 20 μL of lentiviral vector (1 × 108 TU/mL) carrying the TRPV4 gene was injected into the penile cavernous tissue of the transfection groups. One week after transfection, the maximum intracavernous pressure (ICPmax)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the content of TRPV1-4, phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS)/eNOS, and nitric oxide (NO) in penile cavernous tissue of each group were measured. OUTCOMES Under low androgen conditions, TRPV4 expression in endothelial cells in the rat penile cavernosum was sharply reduced, resulting in a decrease in p-eNOS/eNOS and NO content, which could inhibit erectile function. RESULTS In rat penile cavernous tissue, TRPV1-4 was expressed in the cell membranes of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The ICPmax/MAP and the content of TRPV4, p-eNOS/eNOS, and NO end product nitrite level in rat penile cavernous tissue was markedly reduced in the castrated group as compared with the sham group (P < .05). The ICPmax/MAP and the content of TRPV4, p-eNOS/eNOS, and NO end product nitrite level in rat penile cavernous tissue were markedly improved in the castrated + transfection group vs the castrated group (P < .01). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Upregulation of TRPV4 expression in penile cavernosum tissue might be a viable therapeutic for ED caused by hypoandrogenism. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS The specific mechanism of TRPV4 in ED needs to be further verified by androgen receptor or TRPV4 gene knockout experiments. CONCLUSION Hypoandrogenism may cause ED by reducing the expression of TRPV4 in rat penile cavernous tissue. Upregulation of TRPV4 expression in penile cavernous tissue can increase the ratio of p-eNOS/eNOS and NO levels and ameliorate the erectile function of castrated rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xiangjun Kong
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Wen-Ju Xiong
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
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Matsuoka H, Harada K, Sugawara A, Kim D, Inoue M. Expression of p11 and heteromeric TASK channels in mouse adrenal cortical cells and H295R cells. Acta Histochem 2022; 124:151898. [PMID: 35526370 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2022.151898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
TWIK-related acid-sensitive K+ (TASK) channels are thought to contribute to the resting membrane potential in adrenal cortical (AC) cells. However, the molecular identity of TASK channels in AC cells have not yet been elucidated. Thus, immunocytochemical and molecular biological approaches were employed to investigate the expression and intracellular distribution of TASK1 and TASK3 in mouse AC cells and H295R cells derived from human adrenocortical carcinoma. Immunocytochemical study revealed that immunoreactive materials were mainly located in the cytoplasm for TASK1 and at the cell periphery for TASK3 in mouse AC cells. A similar pattern of localization was observed when GFP-TASK1 and GFP-TASK3 were exogenously expressed in H295R cells. In addition, p11 that is known to suppress the endoplasmic reticulum exit of TASK1 was localized in the cytoplasm in mouse AC and H295R cells, but not in adrenal medullary cells. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) suggested formation of heteromeric TASK1-3 channels that were found predominantly in the cytoplasm and weakly at the cell periphery. A similar distribution was observed following exogenous expression of tandem TASK1-3 channels in H295R cells. When stimulated by angiotensin II, however, tandem TASK1-3 channels were present mainly in the cytoplasm in all H295R cells. In contrast to that in H295R cells, tandem channels were exclusively located at the cell periphery in all non-stimulated and exclusively in the cytoplasm in stimulated PC12 cells, respectively. From these results, we conclude that TASK1 proteins are present mainly in the cytoplasm and minimally at the cell periphery as a heteromeric channel with TASK3, whereas the majority of TASK3 is at the cell periphery as homomeric and heteromeric channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetada Matsuoka
- Department of Cell and Systems Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Keita Harada
- Department of Cell and Systems Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Akira Sugawara
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medical Science, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Donghee Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064-3095, USA
| | - Masumi Inoue
- Department of Cell and Systems Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health School of Medicine, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
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Deng CJ, Li X, Zeng Y, Jiang J, Jiang R. Icariin inhibits the formation of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) and improves erectile function in rats treated with prostate radiation. Andrology 2022; 10:1208-1216. [PMID: 35765205 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erectile function is usually impaired after radiation therapy in prostate cancer patients. eNOS is a key enzyme in the process of erection. Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) are closely contacted with the production and bioactivity of eNOS. OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of icariin improves the erectile function of rats treated with prostate radiation by controling the expression of MAMs in penile corpus cavernosum. METHODS Twenty 8-week-old healthy male SD rats were randomized to four groups: control group, radiation therapy (RT) group, icariin (10 mg/kg/d gavage) group, and RT + icariin (10 mg/kg/d gavage) group (n = 5). In RT group and RT + icariin group, rats were irradiated with X-rays to the prostate region (total dose 37.5 gray; 7.5 gray/day for 5 days). The ICPmax/MAP, NO concentration and the level of IP3 R1, PACS2, FACL4, nNOS, p-eNOS, and eNOS in rats' penile cavernous tissue was determined 9 weeks after radiation therapy. RESULTS Compared with the control group and the RT + icariin group, the ICPmax/MAP of the RT group was remarkably reduced (P<0.05). The levels of p-eNOS/eNOS, nNOS and the concentration of NO in the penile cavernous tissue of the penis in the RT group were remarkably decreased compared to the control group and the RT + icariin group (P<0.05). The levels of IP3 R1, PACS2, and FACL4 in penile cavernous tissue of the RT group were significantly higher than those in the control group and the RT + icariin group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS After prostate X-ray radiotherapy in rats, the formation of MAMs may be increased by increased expression of IP3 R1, PACS2, and FACL4 in penile cavernous tissue, resulting in impaired erectile function. Icariin might increase p-eNOS/eNOS and improve erectile function in rats after prostate radiotherapy by inhibiting the expression of IP3 R1, PACS2, and FACL4. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Jian Deng
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xiong Li
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yang Zeng
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.,Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, China
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Xiong W, Kong X, Jiang J, Yang Z, Jiang R. Low androgen status inhibits erectile function by inducing eNOS uncoupling in rat corpus cavernosum. Andrology 2020; 8:1875-1883. [PMID: 32594586 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of erectile dysfunction (ED) patients is increasing annually. How to improve the effectiveness of ED treatment is an important issue for the field of andrology. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether low androgen status impairs the erectile function of rats by regulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows: 4-week sham-operated group (4w-sham), 4-week castration group (4w-cast), 4-week castration + testosterone (T) group (4w-cast + T), 8-week sham-operated group (8w-sham), 8-week castration group (8w-cast), and 8-week castration + T group (8w-cast + T). Three mg/kg of T was subcutaneously injected every other day in castration + T groups. The ratio of the maximum intracavernous pressure/the mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP), the level of serum T, dihydrobiopterin(BH2 ), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4 ), nitric oxygen(NO), 3-nitrotyrosine(3NT), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2), and eNOS monomers/dimers in the corpus cavernosum were detected. RESULTS The ratio of ICPmax/MAP and BH4 /BH2 , the level of serum T, NO, and GTPCH1 decreased significantly in castration groups compared with sham-operated groups and castration + T groups (P < .05) and decreased significantly in 8w-cast group compared with 4w-cast group (P < .05). The expression of 3NT and NOX2 and the ratio of eNOS monomers/dimers increased significantly in castration groups compared with sham-operated groups and castration + T groups (P < .01) and increased significantly in 8w-cast group compared with 4w-cast group (P < .01). The expression of DHFR in 4w-cast group was significantly higher than that in 4w-sham group and 4w-cast + T group (P < .01) and in 8w-cast group was significantly lower than that in 8w-sham group and 8w-cast + T group (P < .01). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Low androgen status induces eNOS uncoupling by reducing BH4 /BH2 and increasing 3NT. Due to the decreased NO production, the erectile function of the rats was impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenju Xiong
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiangjun Kong
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
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Oliver DK, Intson K, Sargin D, Power SK, McNabb J, Ramsey AJ, Lambe EK. Chronic social isolation exerts opposing sex-specific consequences on serotonin neuronal excitability and behaviour. Neuropharmacology 2020; 168:108015. [PMID: 32092443 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Social isolation raises the risk for mood disorders associated with serotonergic disruption. Yet, the underlying mechanisms by which the stress of social isolation increases risk are not well understood. Men and women are differently vulnerable; however, this modulating role of sex is challenging to study in humans under carefully controlled conditions. Therefore, we investigated this question in mice of both sexes, asking how the long-term stress of social isolation (from weaning into adulthood) affects the excitability of serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus as well as mouse behaviour. The electrophysiological experiments and the first set of behavioural tests were conducted in young adult mice, with additional behavioural assays completed as the mice matured to assess the stability of their behavioural phenotype. We found that social isolation exerted seemingly-opposite effects in male and female mice, relative to their respective group-housed littermate controls. This distinctive pattern was observed for the effect of social isolation on the control of serotonergic neuron excitability via the SK family of calcium-activated potassium channels. Furthermore, we observed a similar and consistent pattern on tests relevant to assessing the efficacy of anti-depressant medicines, including the forced swim test, the novelty-suppressed feeding test, and the sucrose preference test. These findings underscore the concept that stress-elicited illness manifests distinctly in males and females and that treatments aimed at restoring serotonergic function may require a sex-specific approach. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Serotonin Research: Crossing Scales and Boundaries'.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Oliver
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katheron Intson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Derya Sargin
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Saige K Power
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Janice McNabb
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amy J Ramsey
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evelyn K Lambe
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of OBGYN, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Lorigo M, Mariana M, Lemos MC, Cairrao E. Vascular mechanisms of testosterone: The non-genomic point of view. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 196:105496. [PMID: 31655180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone (T) is the predominant endogenous androgen in the bloodstream. At the vascular level, T presents genomic and non-genomic effects, and both effects may overlap. The genomic actions assume that androgens can freely cross the plasma membrane of target cells and bind to nuclear androgen receptors, inducing gene transcription and protein synthesis. The non-genomic effects have a more rapid onset and may be related to the interaction with protein/receptor/ion channels of the plasma membrane. The key T effect at the vascular level is vasorelaxation, which is primarily due to its rapid effect. Thus, the main purpose of this review is to discuss the T non-genomic effects at the vascular level and the molecular pathways involved in its vasodilator effect observed in in vivo and in vitro studies. In this sense, the nuclear receptor activation, the influence of vascular endothelium and the activation or inhibition of ion channels (potassium and calcium channels, respectively) will be reviewed regarding all the data that corroborated or not. Moreover, this review also provides a brief update on the association of T with the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, namely metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. In summary, in this paper we consider the non-genomic vascular mode of action of androgen in physiological conditions and the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Lorigo
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Melissa Mariana
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Manuel C Lemos
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Elisa Cairrao
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
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Ohya S, Ito K, Hatano N, Ohno A, Muraki K, Imaizumi Y. Castration Induces Down-Regulation of A-Type K + Channel in Rat Vas Deferens Smooth Muscle. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174073. [PMID: 31438481 PMCID: PMC6747096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A-type K+ channels contribute to regulating the propagation and frequency of action potentials in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The present study (i) identified the molecular components of A-type K+ channels in rat vas deferens SMs (VDSMs) and (ii) showed the long-term, genomic effects of testosterone on their expression in VDSMs. Transcripts of the A-type K+ channel α subunit, Kv4.3L and its regulatory β subunits, KChIP3, NCS1, and DPP6-S were predominantly expressed in rat VDSMs over the other related subtypes (Kv4.2, KChIP1, KChIP2, KChIP4, and DPP10). A-type K+ current (IA) density in VDSM cells (VDSMCs) was decreased by castration without changes in IA kinetics, and decreased IA density was compensated for by an oral treatment with 17α-methyltestosterone (MET). Correspondingly, in the VDSMs of castrated rats, Kv4.3L and KChIP3 were down-regulated at both the transcript and protein expression levels. Changes in Kv4.3L and KChIP3 expression levels were compensated for by the treatment with MET. These results suggest that testosterone level changes in testosterone disorders and growth processes control the functional expression of A-type K+ channels in VDSMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Ohya
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan.
| | - Katsunori Ito
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Hatano
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, Aichi Gakuin University, Nagoya 464-8650, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Ohno
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Muraki
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, Aichi Gakuin University, Nagoya 464-8650, Japan
| | - Yuji Imaizumi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan.
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Kong X, Jiang J, Cheng B, Jiang R. Effect of low androgen status on the expression of adenosine A 2A and A 2B receptors in rat penile corpus cavernosum. Andrologia 2019; 51:e13344. [PMID: 31206753 DOI: 10.1111/and.13344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether low androgen status affects erectile function by regulating the expression of adenosine A2A and A2B receptors in rat penile corpus cavernosum. Thirty-six 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham-operated group (4w-sham, 8w-sham), castration group (4w-cast, 8w-cast) and androgen replacement group (4w-cast+T, 8w-cast+T). The rats in the androgen replacement groups were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg) every other day after castration. The maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP), the expression of A2A , A2B , AKT and eNOS and the concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the corpus cavernosum were detected at the 4th and 8th weeks after the operation. The serum testosterone level and the ratio of ICPmax/MAP decreased significantly in the castration group as compared to other groups (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expression of A2A receptor among groups, while the expression of A2B , AKT and eNOS and the concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the castration group were significantly lower than in other groups (p < 0.01). Low androgen status inhibits the AKT/eNOS/cGMP signalling pathways and the production of cAMP in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats by down-regulating the expression of A2B receptor, and results in decreased of ICPmax/MAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiangJun Kong
- Department of Urology, Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Bo Cheng
- Department of Urology, Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Nephropathy Clinical Medical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest medical University, Luzhou, China
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