Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Intracavernosal Pressure Recording to Evaluate Erectile Function in Rodents

Intracavernosal Pressure Recording to Evaluate Erectile Function in Rodents

Published on: June 6, 2018

Icariin combined with breviscapine improves the erectile function of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Yongxian Li¹, Jun Jiang, Yanzheng He

¹Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

|June 11, 2014

Abstract

Introduction:

The impaired erectile response in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is caused by increased signaling of RhoA/Rho-kinase and decreased signaling of nitric oxide (NO). Icariin improves erectile function via upregulating multitargets in NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway, which breviscapine accomplishes by downregulating RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

Aim:

To investigate the effect and mechanism of icariin combined with breviscapine on the erectile function of SHR.

Methods:

Five 12-week-old male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and 20 age-matched male SHR were evenly randomized into WKY rats control group, SHR control group, icariin-treated group, breviscapine-treated group, and combined treatment group treated by vehicle, icariin, breviscapine, and icariin plus breviscapine, respectively, by gavage for four successive weeks. Maximum intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP) and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5), and Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 and 2 (ROCK1 and ROCK2) in the cavernous tissues were determined.

Results:

The ICPmax/MAP in the combined treatment group was significantly increased compared with SHR control group, icariin-treated group, and breviscapine-treated group. The expression of eNOS and nNOS was significantly higher in the combined treatment group than in SHR control group, icariin-treated group, and breviscapine-treated group (P < 0.05). The expression of PDE5 was significantly lower in the icariin-treated group than in SHR control group (P < 0.05). The expression of ROCK1 was significantly lower in the combined treatment group than in other groups (P < 0.05). The expression of ROCK2 was significantly higher in SHR control group than in WKY rats control group, icariin-treated group, and combined treatment group (P < 0.05). Among these groups, the expression of eNOS and nNOS was the strongest, and ROCK1 was the lowest in WKY rats control group.

Conclusion:

Icariin combined with breviscapine has synergistic effects on erectile function of SHR through different signal pathways.

Keywords:

Breviscapine Erectile Dysfunction Erectile Function Hypertension Icariin Rat

More Related Videos

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat

Cavernous Nerve Stimulation and Recording of Intracavernous Pressure in a Rat

Published on: April 23, 2018

Intracavernous Pressure Recording in a Cavernous Nerve Injury Rat Model

Intracavernous Pressure Recording in a Cavernous Nerve Injury Rat Model

Published on: September 20, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are potent enzymes that function to hydrolyze cyclic nucleotides to their corresponding 5' monophosphates. Their unique biochemical properties have been applied in treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors

Antihypertensive Drugs: Direct Renin Inhibitors

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an intricate physiological pathway involving numerous enzymes and hormones, including renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin I and II, and aldosterone. Imbalances within this system increase the production of angiotensin II and aldosterone. Increased angiotensin II levels promote vasoconstriction and blood pressure elevation. Concurrently, higher aldosterone levels stimulate sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys,...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone called angiotensin II plays a crucial role. It binds to the AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscles coupled with Gq proteins. The activation of these receptors activates an enzyme called phospholipase C, which releases two molecules: inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These molecules cause a chain reaction that leads to the phosphorylation of myosin light chains and promotes interaction between actin and myosin, leading to smooth...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a vital component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, is abundant in lung endothelial cells. ACE converts the inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I, into the active octapeptide, angiotensin II. This potent vasoconstrictor narrows blood vessels, increasing resistance to blood flow and elevating blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates aldosterone production, encouraging kidney cells to reabsorb more sodium and water from urine, thereby increasing...

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

Bringing light into the dark triplet space of molecular systems.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2015

Steering charge kinetics in photocatalysis: intersection of materials syntheses, characterization techniques and theoretical simulations.

Chemical Society reviews·2015

Infrared spectra of small anionic water clusters from density functional theory and wavefunction theory calculations.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2015

Genetic diversity of HIV-1 and transmitted drug resistance among newly diagnosed individuals with HIV infection in Hangzhou, China.

Journal of medical virology·2015

Metformin represses androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancers by targeting androgen receptor.

The Prostate·2015

Dietary riboflavin deficiency decreases immunity and antioxidant capacity, and changes tight junction proteins and related signaling molecules mRNA expression in the gills of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Fish & shellfish immunology·2015

See all related articles