Temperature-dependent contractility of rat tunica dartos muscle: Contribution of cold, menthol-sensitive TRPM8

Tunica dartos smooth muscle (TDSM) lies beneath the scrotal skin, and its contraction leads to scrotum wrinkling upon cooling. However, neither the nature of TDSM cold-sensitivity nor the underlying molecular sensors are well understood. Here we have investigated the role of cold/menthol-sensitive TRPM8 channel in TDSM temperature-dependent contractility. The contraction of isolated male rat TDSM strips was studied by tensiometry. TRPM8 expression was assayed by RT-PCR and fluorescence immunochemistry. Isolated TDSM strips responded to cooling from 33 °C to 20 °C by enhancement of basal tension, and increase of the amplitude and duration of electric field stimulated (EFS) contractions. The effects of cold on basal tension, but not on EFS-contractions, could be 80% inhibited by TRPM8 blockers, capsazepine and BCTC [N-(4‑tert-butylphenyl)-4-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)piperazine-1-carboxamide], and could be partially mimicked by menthol. RT-PCR and immunolabeling showed TRPM8 mRNA and protein expression in TDSM cells with protein labelling being predominantly localized to intracellular compartments. Chemical castration of male rats consequent to the treatment with androgen receptor blocker, flutamide, led to the abrogation of cold effects on TDSM basal tension, but not on EFS-contractions, and to the disappearance of TRPM8 protein expression. We conclude that TRPM8 is involved in the maintenance of basal cold-induced TDSM tonus, but not in sympathetic nerve-mediated contractility, by acting as endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ release channel whose expression in TDSM cells requires the presence of a functional androgen receptor. Thus, TRPM8 plays a crucial role in scrotal thermoregulation which is important for maintaining normal spermatogenesis and male fertility.