Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relaxation of isolated human corpus spongiosum induced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, carbachol and electrical field stimulation

  • Published:
World Journal of Urology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Specimens of corpus spongiosum urethrae were obtained from seven men undergoing total cystourethrectomy because of bladder malignancy. They all had a history of normal penile erection. By immunohistochemistry, both vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) were demonstrated in the tissue specimens. Strip preparations were dissected and mounted in organ baths, and isometric tension was recorded. Noradrenaline (NA) concentration dependently contracted the preparations. Contractions were also induced by prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and high concentrations (>10−6 M) of SP. Carbachol and VIP were without contractant effects in the concentrations used. In NA- or PGF2α-contracted preparations, carbachol and VIP induced concentration-dependent relaxations. SP had a moderate relaxant effect often followed by contraction. A non-adrenergic, atropine-resistant but tetrodotoxin-sensitive relaxant response could be evoked in NA- and PGF2α-contracted preparations by electrical field stimulation. The results support the view that contraction of the erectile tissue of the human corpus spongiosum urethrae is produced by stimulation of α-adrenoceptors. It cannot be ruled out that the relaxant responses to carbachol and VIP reflect mechanisms of importance for penile erection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Krane JR, Siroky MB (1981) Neurophysiology of erection. Urol Clin North Am 8:91

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sjöstrand NO (1981) Smooth muscles of vas deferens and other organs in the male reproductive tract. In: Bülbring E, Brading AF, Jones AW, Tomita T (eds) Smooth muscle. Arnold, London, p 367

    Google Scholar 

  3. Klinge E, Sjöstrand NO (1974) Contraction and relaxation of the retractor penis muscle and the penile artery of the bull. Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl] 420:1

    Google Scholar 

  4. Klinge E, Sjöstrand NO (1977) Comparative study of some isolated mammalian smooth muscle effectors of penile erection. Acta Physiol Scand 100:354

    Google Scholar 

  5. Polak JM, Gu J, Mina S, Bloom SR (1981) Vipergic nerves in the penis. Lancet 11 (8240):217

    Google Scholar 

  6. Alm P, Alumets J, Håkanson R, Sundler F (1977) Peptidergic (vasoactive intestinal peptide) nerves in the genito-urinary tract. Neuroscience 2:751

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fahrenkrug J (1979) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide: measurement, distribution and putative neurotransmitter function. Digestion 19:149

    Google Scholar 

  8. Larsson L-I, Fahrenkrug J, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell (1977) Occurrence of nerves containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the male genital tract. Life Sci 21:503

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sjöstrand NO, Klinge E, Himberg J-J (1981) Effects of VIP and other putative neurotransmitters on smooth muscle effectors of penile erection. Acta Physiol Scand 113:403

    Google Scholar 

  10. Willis E, Ottesen B, Wagner G, Sundler F, Fahrenkrug J (1981) Vasocative intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a possible neurotransmitter involved in penile erection. Acta Physiol Scand 113:545

    Google Scholar 

  11. Coons AH, Leduc EH, Connolly JM (1955) Studies on antibody production. I. A method for the histochemical demonstration of specific antibody and its application to a study of the hyperimmune rabbit. J Exp Med 102:49

    Google Scholar 

  12. Alm P, Alumets J, Håkanson R, Owman C, Sjöberg N-O, Walles B (1980) Origin and distribution of VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) nerves in the genito-urinary tract. Cell Tissue Res 205:337

    Google Scholar 

  13. Benson GS, McConnell J, Lipshultz LI (1980) Neuromorphology and neuropharmacology of the human penis. J Clin Invest 65:506

    Google Scholar 

  14. Levin RM, Wein AJ (1980) Adrenergic alpha receptors outnumber beta receptors in human penile corpus cavernosum. Invest Urol 18:225

    Google Scholar 

  15. Klinge E, Sjöstrand NO (1977) Suppression of the excitatory adrenergic neurotransmission; a possible role of cholinergic nerves in the retractor penis muscle. Acta Physiol Scand 100:368

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lundberg JM, Änggård A, Fahrenkrug J, Hökfelt T, Mutt V (1980) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in cholinergic neurons of exocrine glands: functional significance of coexisting transmitters for vasodilation and secretion. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 3:1651

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bloom SR, Edwards AV (1980) Vasoactive intestinal peptide in relation to atropine resistant vasodilatation in the submaxillary gland of the cat. J Physiol 300:41

    Google Scholar 

  18. Alm P, Alumets J, Brodin E, Håkanson R, Nilsson G, Sjöberg N-O, Sundler F (1978) Peptidergic (substance P) nerves in the genito-urinary tract. Neuroscience 3:419

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Lund, S-22185, Lund, Sweden

    Karl-Erik Andersson & Christer Sjögren

  2. Department of Urology, University of Lund, S-22185, Lund, Sweden

    Hans Hedlund & Anders Mattiasson

  3. Department of Histology, University of Lund, S-22185, Lund, Sweden

    Frank Sundler

Authors
  1. Karl-Erik Andersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hans Hedlund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anders Mattiasson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christer Sjögren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Frank Sundler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andersson, KE., Hedlund, H., Mattiasson, A. et al. Relaxation of isolated human corpus spongiosum induced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, carbachol and electrical field stimulation. World J Urol 1, 203–208 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326803

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326803

Keywords

Search

Navigation