Growth hormone enhances regeneration of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in the aged rat penis / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of growth hormone (GH) on the erectile function and the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) -containing nerve fibers in the penis of aged rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four aged male SD rats (18 months) were randomized into 2 groups: GH intervention group and control group. After four and eight weeks, a half of each group were selected and tested for erectile function after apomorphine (APO) injection and then sacrificed for the detection of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in the penis by streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated method (SP method).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After four weeks, the erectile function and the number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers showed no significant difference between the GH intervention group and the control group (P > 0.05). After eight weeks, the erection frequency was significantly different (P < 0.05) between the two groups, while the erection rate was not. The number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in the GH intervention group was significantly larger than that in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GH enhances the regeneration of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in the penis and improves the erectile function of the aged rat.</p>