Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Vasoconstriction, RhoA/Rho-kinase and the erectile response.

T M Mills1, R W Lewis, C J Wingard

  • 1Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912-3000, USA.tmills@mail.mcg.edu

International Journal of Impotence Research
|October 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Acute intravenous exposure to silver nanoparticles during pregnancy induces particle size and vehicle dependent changes in vascular tissue contractility in Sprague Dawley rats.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)·2017
Same author

Vascular Tissue Contractility Changes Following Late Gestational Exposure to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes or their Dispersing Vehicle in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Journal of nanomedicine & nanotechnology·2016
Same author

Cardiac Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Following Instillation of 20 nm Citrate-capped Nanosilver.

Journal of nanomedicine & nanotechnology·2016
Same author

Gas what: NO is not the only answer to sexual function.

British journal of pharmacology·2014
Same author

Stable dynamic backpropagation learning in recurrent neural networks.

IEEE transactions on neural networks·2008
Same author

Measles vaccination and antibody response in autism spectrum disorders.

Archives of disease in childhood·2008
Same journal

Attachment orientation and sexual excitation and inhibition independently predict sexual desire and sexual arousal, but their interaction does not.

International journal of impotence research·2026
Same journal

Comment on: Application of gelatin sponge (Gelfoam®) as a hemostatic agent in inflatable penile prosthesis implantation.

International journal of impotence research·2026
Same journal

It Comes at Night: A Nocturnal Emissions Historical Review.

International journal of impotence research·2026
Same journal

Challenging the paradigm: what is vasculogenic erectile dysfunction?

International journal of impotence research·2026
Same journal

Comment on: GLP-1 receptor agonists and male sexual health: translating cardiometabolic benefits into erectile outcomes.

International journal of impotence research·2026
Same journal

Erectile and ejaculatory outcomes after penile fracture repair: a comparative analysis of absorbable vs non-absorbable sutures.

International journal of impotence research·2026
See all related articles

Nitric oxide (NO) facilitates erections by inhibiting the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, which normally causes smooth muscle contraction in the penis. This mechanism is crucial for achieving the necessary vasodilation.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Urology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Smooth muscle contraction in penile tissues, specifically cavernosal arterioles and sinuses, is regulated by the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway.
  • This RhoA/Rho-kinase mediated contraction is a key factor in maintaining the non-erect state.
  • Vasorelaxation, driven by nitric oxide (NO), is essential for achieving an erection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in penile vasoconstriction.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO) overcomes Rho-kinase activity to induce vasodilation and erection.
  • To provide evidence supporting NO's primary function in erection via inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Review and discussion of existing scientific literature and evidence.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of the molecular signaling involved in smooth muscle function in penile tissues.
  • Examination of the interplay between Rho-kinase mediated vasoconstriction and NO-induced vasodilation.

    • Main Results:

    • Evidence supports the significant role of Rho-kinase in maintaining penile vasoconstriction in the flaccid state.
    • Nitric oxide (NO) effectively inhibits the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.
    • This inhibition by NO allows for the necessary vasodilation required for erection.

    Conclusions:

    • The RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway is a critical regulator of penile smooth muscle tone.
    • Nitric oxide (NO) plays a primary role in erectile function by suppressing Rho-kinase activity.
    • Understanding this pathway is key to understanding erectile physiology and potential therapeutic targets.