Expressions of Cav1.3 and RyR1 in the Corpus Cavernosum of the Penis in Aged Rats
LUO Yi
JIANG Rui
Abstract：Objective: To study the expression of the L-type calcium channel (Car1.3) and its receptor Ryrsl in the corpus cavernosum of the penis in aged rats, and to explore the mechanism of age-related erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: We included 10 two month-old male SD rats (Group A) and another ten 18-month-old ones (Group B) in this study, measured their serum testosterone levels and analyzed the expressions of Car1.3 and RyR1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.Results: The level of serum testosterone was significantly lower in Group B than in A ( [1 356±424] ng/L vs [2 744±964] ng/L,P < 0.05). Compared with the young rats, the aged ones showed significant decreases in the expressions of Car1.3 (IA = 18.65 ±8.47 vs 75.48 ± 14.28, P < 0.05), RyR1 (IA = 21.37 ± 9.64 vs 78.23 ± 13.57, P < 0.05), Car1.3 mRNA (mean gray value = 0.382 ± 0.046 vs 1.137 ± 0.415, P < 0.05), and RyR1 mRNA (mean gray value = 0.146±0.053 vs 1.215 ± 0. 261, P < 0.05). Conclusion : Reduced expressions of Car1.3 and RyR1 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis may be one of the mechanisms underlying age-related ED in aged rats.
Keywords：erectile dysfunctioncalcium channel Cav1.3ryanodine receptor RyR1agedcorpus cavernosum
Publication Date：2009-10-26
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 985-989 )