Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Cav1.3

Title: [Expressions of Cav1.3 and RyR1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis in aged rats]

Authors: Yi Luo, Rui Jiang

Journal, date & volume: Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2009 Nov , 15, 985-9

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20218309

Abstract
To study the expression of the L-type calcium channel (Cav1.3) and its receptor Ryrs1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis in aged rats, and to explore the mechanism of age-related erectile dysfunction (ED).We included 10 two month-old male SD rats (Group A) and another ten 18-month-old ones (Group B) in this study, measured their serum testosterone levels and analyzed the expressions of Cav1.3 and RyR1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.The level of serum testosterone was significantly lower in Group B than in A ([1 356 +/- 424] ng/L vs [2 744 +/- 964] ng/L, P < 0.05). Compared with the young rats, the aged ones showed significant decreases in the expressions of Cav1.3 (IA = 18.65 +/- 8.47 vs 75.48 +/- 14.28, P < 0.05), RyR1 (IA = 21.37 +/- 9.64 vs 78.23 +/- 13.57, P < 0.05), Cav1.3 mRNA (mean gray value = 0.382 +/- 0.046 vs 1.137 +/- 0.415, P < 0.05), and RyR1 mRNA (mean gray value = 0.146 +/- 0.053 vs 1.215 +/- 0.261, P < 0.05).Reduced expressions of Cav1.3 and RyR1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis may be one of the mechanisms underlying age-related ED in aged rats.