ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Relaxation of the penile cavernous smooth muscle, which is the main process in penile erection, is controlled by endothelial-derived substances. This study was designed to determine whether aging resulted in altered endothelial autocrine/paracrine function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the distribution of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the isolated corpus cavernosum from both young (12 weeks old) and aged (50 and 80 weeks old) rats by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Vascular mRNA expressions of NOS isoforms and ET-1 were also analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The concentration of nitrite/nitrate in the corpus cavernosum was significantly decreased in aged rats but plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration was not changed by aging. IHC staining revealed that the aged vessels showed a marked IHC staining for inducible NOS (iNOS) although the vessels from 12-week-old rats were negative for iNOS. In contrast, there was a reduction of immunoreactivity for endothelial NOS (eNOS) with aging. With aging, expression of eNOS mRNA was slightly decreased in the corpus cavernosum. However, expression of iNOS mRNA was markedly increased with increasing age. IHC staining for vascular ET-1 peptide in young rats showed a scanty distribution in the endothelial cell layer. However, the staining for ET-1 increased both the endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle layers in the aged rats. mRNA expression of ET-1 gene was upregulated in the aged rats. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the activation of vascular endothelin cascade and alterations in the expression of NOS isoforms may play an important role in the age-dependent, vasculogenic, erectile dysfunction.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Aging , Endothelial Cells , Endothelin-1 , Endothelins , Erectile Dysfunction , Muscle, Smooth , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Nitric Oxide , Penile Erection , Plasma , Protein Isoforms , Relaxation , RNA, MessengerABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate whether rebamipide is useful in the treatment of male infertility due to oxidative damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 infertile males with elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their semen were enrolled. All patients were given an oral daily dose of 900mg rebamipide for at least 3 months. The concentrations of rebamipide and ROS, and the levels of lipid peroxidation, sperm motility, vitality and fertilizing capacity were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescent method, chemiluminescence, the thiobarbituric acid method, a computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test, respectively. Additionally, the clinical outcomes, including pregnancy and delivery, were observed at the gynecology outpatient and IVF clinics. RESULTS: The rebamipide concentration in semen after medication was 220.77+/-327.84ng/ml (SD), with a large deviation, but this was higher than the level found in the serum, which was 126+/-76ng/ml (SD). The levels of seminal ROS and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased according to the duration of treatment (p<0.05). The sperm vitality and fertilizing capacity were also significantly improved at 2-3 months post treatment (p<0.05). Out of the 41 cases with trial pregnancies, 20 (48.8%) became pregnant, consisting of childbirth, miscarriage or ongoing in 17, 2 and 1 case, respectively. Side effects were observed in only 1 case (2%) with self-limits. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rebamipide is an effective free radical scavenger, which may be useful as an oral antioxidant in patients with male infertility due to oxidative damage caused by high tissue affinity to the male accessory organ, antioxidant effect and the improving effect of seminal parameters.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Abortion, Spontaneous , Antioxidants , Chromatography, Liquid , Gynecology , Infertility, Male , Lipid Peroxidation , Luminescence , Outpatients , Oxidative Stress , Parturition , Reactive Oxygen Species , Semen , Sperm Motility , SpermatozoaABSTRACT
Leiomyosarcoma of the penis is an extremely rare disease. We experienced a patient with a leiomyosarcoma on the ventral preputial skin of penis in a 45-year old man. The patient was treated with local wide excision with chemotherapy. Herein, we report this case with the review of literature.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Drug Therapy , Leiomyosarcoma , Penis , Rare Diseases , SkinABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Kidney , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen , TelomeraseABSTRACT
We present a case of urachal actinomycosis. Twenty four year-old female patient presented with low abdominal pain and a palpable mass. MRI showed an irregular shaped mass extending from the umbilicus to the dome of the bladder, just beneath the rectus muscle. Exploration revealed a hard fibrotic mass which was adhered tightly with appendix, dome of the bladder, left ovary, fallopian tube and sigmoid colon. The ill-defined fibrotic mass with the adhered organ was removed as en bloc. Actinomycosis was diagnosed from the postoperative specimen. Penicillin G was administered postoperatively. At 1 year followup, she is well without subjective symptom except mild frequency and lymphocele in right pelvis, which was aspirated.