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Related Concept Videos

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway01:28

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation01:17

Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation

Sexual stimulation can take various forms, such as physical touch and visual or auditory cues. When this happens, the parasympathetic reflex in the sacral portion of the spinal cord is activated. This reflex stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), which then dilates the arterioles in the penis, increasing blood flow to the erectile tissues - the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
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Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors01:28

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat
07:43

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat

Published on: April 23, 2018

TNF-alpha infusion impairs corpora cavernosa reactivity.

Fernando S Carneiro1, Saiprazad Zemse, Fernanda R C Giachini

  • 1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Pharmacology, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. fcarneiro@mcg.edu

The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|March 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) impairs erectile function by reducing nitric oxide synthase expression and nerve-mediated relaxation in mice. This suggests TNF-alpha blockade could be a therapeutic strategy for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat
07:43

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat

Published on: April 23, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) share links with endothelial dysfunction and elevated proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).
  • Increased TNF-alpha is hypothesized to negatively impact erectile tissue function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on erectile function in a mouse model.
  • To determine if TNF-alpha influences cavernosal reactivity and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro organ bath studies were conducted on mouse cavernosal tissues.
  • Mice were infused with TNF-alpha or a vehicle control for 14 days.
  • Gene expression of NOS isoforms (eNOS, nNOS) was analyzed using real-time PCR.

Main Results:

  • TNF-alpha infusion led to decreased nitric oxide (NO)-dependent relaxation in cavernosal tissues.
  • This was associated with reduced gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS).
  • Contractile responses were increased, alongside elevated endothelin-1 responses and ET(A) receptor expression.

Conclusions:

  • TNF-alpha infusion in mice results in impaired cavernosal relaxation and enhanced contractile responses.
  • Decreased eNOS and nNOS gene expression are linked to these functional changes, suggesting a detrimental role for TNF-alpha in erectile function.
  • Targeting TNF-alpha may offer a novel therapeutic avenue for ED, particularly in conditions with high cytokine levels.