Experimental model of human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle relaxation

PURPOSE: To describe a technique for en bloc harvesting of the corpus cavernosum, cavernous artery and urethra from transplant organ donors and contraction-relaxation experiments with corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The corpus cavernosum was dissected to the point of attachment with the crus penis. A 3 cm segment (corpus cavernosum and urethra) was isolated and placed in ice-cold sterile transportation buffer. Under magnification, the cavernous artery was dissected. Thus, 2 cm fragments of cavernous artery and corpus cavernosum were obtained. Strips measuring 3 x 3 x 8 mm3 were then mounted vertically in an isolated organ bath device. Contractions were measured isometrically with a Narco-Biosystems force displacement transducer (model F-60, Narco-Biosystems, Houston, TX, USA) and recorded on a 4-channel Narco-Biosystems desk model polygraph. RESULTS: Phenylephrine (1µM) was used to induce tonic contractions in the corpus cavernosum (3 - 5 g tension) and cavernous artery (0.5 - 1g tension) until reaching a plateau. After precontraction, smooth muscle relaxants were used to produce relaxation-response curves (10-12M to 10-4 M). Sodium nitroprusside was used as a relaxation control. CONCLUSION: The harvesting technique and the smooth muscle contraction-relaxation model described in this study were shown to be useful instruments in the search for new drugs for the treatment of human erectile dysfunction.

Relaxation of rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and aortic vascular endothelium induced by new nitric oxide donor substances of the nitrosyl-ruthenium complex

INTRODUCTION: Endothelial dysfunction characterized by endogenous nitric oxide (NO) deficiency made 56 percent of patients affected with erectile dysfunction decline treatment with PDE-5 inhibitors. New forms of treatment are currently being developed for this group of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study compared the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and two substances of the nitrosyl-ruthenium complex, cis-[Ru(bpy)2(SO3)(NO)]PF-6-9 ("FONO1”) and trans-[Ru(NH3)4(caffeine)(NO)]C13 ("LLNO1”) on relaxation of rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and aortic vascular endothelium. The samples were immersed in isolated baths and precontracted with 0.1 µM phenylephrine (PE) and the corresponding relaxation concentration/response curves were plotted. In order to investigate the relaxation mechanisms involved, 100 µM ODQ (a soluble guanylate cyclase-specific inhibitor), 3 µM or 10 µM oxyhemoglobin (an extracellular NO scavenger) or 1 mM L-cysteine (a nitrosyl anion-specific scavenger) was added to the samples. RESULTS: All the NO donors tested produced a significant level of relaxation in the vascular endothelium. In corpus cavernosum samples, FONO1 produced no significant effect, but LLNO1 and SNP induced dose-dependent relaxation with comparable potency (pEC50 = 6.14 ± 0.08 and 6.4 ± 0.14, respectively) and maximum effect (Emax = 82 percent vs. 100 percent, respectively). All NO donors were found to activate soluble guanylate cyclase, since the addition of the corresponding inhibitor (100 µM ODQ) completely neutralized the relaxation effect observed. The addition of oxyhemoglobin reduced the relaxation effect, but did not inhibit it completely. In aortic vascular endothelium 3 µM oxyhemoglobin decreased the relaxation effect by 26 percent on the average, while 10 µM oxyhemoglobin reduced it by over 52 percent. The addition of 100 µM L-cysteine produced no significant inhibiting effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LLNO1...

Avaliação da segurança clínica de um fitoterápico contendo Mikania glomerata, Grindelia robusta, Copaifera officinalis, Myroxylon toluifera, Nasturtium officinale, própolis e mel em voluntários saudáveis / Clinical safety evaluation of a phytomedicine containing Mikania glomerata, Grindelia robusta, Copaifera officinalis, Myroxylon toluifera, Nasturtium officinale, honey and propolis in healthy volunteers

O fitoterápico Calmatoss® é um xarope composto por tinturas de guaco (Mikania glomerata), grindélia (Grindelia robusta), copaíba (Copaifera officinalis), bálsamo de Tolú (Myroxylon toluifera), álcoolatura de agrião (Nasturtium officinale), própolis e mel. Sua principal indicação é para o tratamento de afecções do trato respiratório por suas ações antimicrobianas, antitussígenas, expectorantes e broncodilatadora. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a toxicologia clínica dessa preparação em voluntários saudáveis. Para isso realizou-se um ensaio clínico, não controlado com 24 voluntários de ambos os sexos, que receberam ambulatorialmente 15 mL do xarope quatro vezes ao dia, durante 21 dias ininterruptos. Os voluntários foram incluídos no estudo somente quando considerados saudáveis após avaliação clínica, exame físico e exames laboratoriais que antecederam o estudo. O xarope Calmatoss® foi bem tolerado pelos 24 voluntários não apresentando eventos adversos graves. Os exames clínicos, eletrocardiográficos e laboratoriais efetuados antes, durante e após o ensaio não evidenciaram sinais de toxicidade nos diversos órgãos e sistemas avaliados, confirmando a segurança da preparação para utilização em ensaios de eficácia terapêutica.

Calmatoss® is a phytomedicine used in several respiratory tract pathologies treatment composed of seven medicinal plants such as Mikania glomerata, Grindelia robusta, Copaifera officinalis, Myroxylon toluifera, Nasturtium officinale, as well as honey and propolis. The present study investigated the chronic administration of 15 mL Calmatoss® syroup four times a day during 21 days for any toxic effect on healthy volunteers. The clinical trial consisted of an open study with 24 volunteers included in the study only when considered healthy after clinical evaluation, physical examination and laboratory tests, which preceded the study. The laboratory tests included: heamatologic, biochemical and sorologic analysis. This evaluation was repeated after the first, second and third week of treatment and at post-study seven days after the last administration. Calmatoss® was well tolerated by the volunteers. Variations in the laboratory were observed and all of these laboratory changes returned to normal levels during or after the study. In spite of these variations none of the volunteers had their values out of the established normality limits for each parameter. In conclusion, clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory tests did not show any evidence of toxic signals in the various organs and systems studied.

Estudo de toxicologia clínica de um fitoterápico a base de associações de plantas, mel e própolis / Clinical toxicology study of a phytomedicine syrup composed of plants, honey and propolis

O estudo objetivou avaliar a segurança clínica do uso de uma formulação fitoterápica composta da associação de Mikania glomerata, Mentha piperita, Eucalyptus globulus e Copaifera multijuga, incorporadas à própolis e mel para tratar doenças respiratórias. O ensaio clínico consistiu de um estudo aberto, com 26 voluntários adultos de ambos os sexos, que receberam quatro doses orais de 15 mL de Saratosse®, durante 28 dias ininterruptos. Os voluntários foram incluídos somente se considerados saudáveis, após exames clínico e complementares que antecederam o estudo. A avaliação laboratorial incluía análises hematológicas, bioquímicas e sorológicas. A mesma avaliação foi repetida após cada semana de tratamento e no pós-estudo, sete dias após a última administração. Os resultados foram submetidos à Análise de Variância (teste de Dunnett), obtendo-se, a menor diferença significante (p < 0,05). O xarope foi bem tolerado. Alguns eventos adversos foram relatados, sendo classificados como possivelmente ou não atribuídos ao fitoterápico. Os índices de hemoglobina, TGO, TGP, creatinina e leucócitos não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação ao pré-estudo. Todos os parâmetros laboratoriais estiveram dentro das suas respectivas faixas de normalidade. Os exames clínicos, eletrocardiográficos e laboratoriais não evidenciaram sinais de toxicidade nos órgãos e sistemas avaliados.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of the use of a phytomedicine syrup (Saratosse®) composed of several medicinal plants: Mikania glomerata, Mentha piperita, Eucalyptus globulus and Copaifera multijuga, along with honey and propolis to treat respiratory diseases. The clinical trial consisted of an open study with 26 adult volunteers of both sexes, who were given an oral dose of 15 mL of Saratosse® for 28 consecutive days, four times a day. Only volunteers who were found healthy after a clinical and physical examination were included. The laboratory tests included: hematological, biochemical and serological analysis. This evaluation was repeated after each week of treatment and seven days after the last administration. ANOVA analysis (Dunnett's test) showed a significant difference, albeit at low statistical level (p < 0.05). Significant differences to the pre-study were not shown by hemoglobin, SGOT, SGPT, creatinine and leukocytes analysis. Laboratorial tests results were within their maximum and minimum reference values. On the whole the medicine was well tolerated. Some side effects were related, which may or not be attributed to the phytomedicine. Clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory tests did not show any evidence of toxic signs in the organs and systems studied.