Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway and penile erection / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Penile erection is regulated by the relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs). It has been recognized that the Ras/MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway is closely related to the functions of CCSMCs and endothelial cells, and it is involved in the regulation of penile erection, mainly via phosphorylation of NO synthase. ERK1/2 phosphorylates, inhibits eNOS activity, and thus reduces the relaxation of CCSMCs and penile erection. But the site of phosphorylation is not yet clear. In CCSMCs and endothelial cells, the ERK1/2 pathway interacts with other cascades and regulates the erectile function of the penis. This article presents an overview of the researches on the ERK1/2 signaling cascade, its regulatory role and its interaction with other signaling pathways in penile erection.