Effect of low androgen levels on IKca and SKca3 channels in rat penile corpus cavernosum
2018
We investigated whether low androgen levels affected erectile function by regulating the expressions of intermediate-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel (IKca) and small-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel 3 (SKca3) in corpus cavernous of rats. Thirty-six healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the 4-week control group, 4-week castration group, 4-week androgen replacement after castration group, 8-week control group, 8-week castration group and 8-week androgen replacement after castration group, respectively. The rats in the androgen replacement groups were subcutaneously injected with testosterone (3 mg/kg) every other day after castration. After 4 and 8 weeks, maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax /MAP) was measured. Expressions of IKca, SKca3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and P-eNOS in penile corpus cavernosum were detected. ICPmax /MAP decreased significantly in the castration groups as compared to the control groups and the androgen replacement groups (p < 0.01). mRNA expressions of IKca and SKca3 decreased significantly in the castration groups as compared to the control groups and androgen replacement groups (p < 0.01). Protein expressions of eNOS, P-eNOS, IKca and SKca3 in the castration groups were significantly reduced as compared to the control groups and androgen replacement groups (p < 0.01). Under low androgen levels, ICPmax /MAP can be reduced by down-regulating the expressions of SKca3 and IKca, inhibiting P-eNOS/eNOS and reducing eNOS bioactivity.
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