Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Rho Kinase (ROK)-Related Proteins in Human Cavernous Arteries: An Immunohistochemical and Functional Approach.

Waldkirch, Eginhard S ; Uckert, Stefan ; Sohn, Michael ; Kuczyk, Markus A and Hedlund, Petter LU (2012) In Journal of Sexual Medicine 9(5). p.1337-1343
Abstract
Introduction. Rho kinases (ROKs) cause calcium-independent modulation of smooth muscle contraction. A significant role for the RhoA/ROK pathway in mediating the contraction of the penile erectile tissue has been suggested. Moreover, it has been postulated that ROK activity might represent a key factor in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. Up until today, little is known on the significance of ROK and related proteins in the control of blood flow in the corpus cavernosum. Aim. To investigate by means of immunohistochemistry and organ bath studies the significance of the Rho pathway in human cavernous arteries. Main Outcome Measures. The expression of ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI in human cavernous arteries was investigated by... (More)
Introduction. Rho kinases (ROKs) cause calcium-independent modulation of smooth muscle contraction. A significant role for the RhoA/ROK pathway in mediating the contraction of the penile erectile tissue has been suggested. Moreover, it has been postulated that ROK activity might represent a key factor in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. Up until today, little is known on the significance of ROK and related proteins in the control of blood flow in the corpus cavernosum. Aim. To investigate by means of immunohistochemistry and organ bath studies the significance of the Rho pathway in human cavernous arteries. Main Outcome Measures. The expression of ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI in human cavernous arteries was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry; myographic studies were conducted in order to characterize the effects of the ROK inhibitor Y27632 on isolated cavernous arteries. Methods. Specimens of human cavernous arteries were processed for immunohistochemistry for ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI. Circular penile vascular segments were mounted in a tissue bath and the effects of increasing concentrations of the ROK inhibitor Y27632 on the tension induced by norepinephrine (NE, 1 µM) were investigated. Results. Alpha-actin immunoreactive cavernous arterioles also presented abundant staining specific for ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI in the smooth musculature of the vascular wall. Cumulative addition of Y27632 dose-dependently reversed the tension induced by NE of isolated arterial segments. Y27632 produced relaxant responses with a reversion of tension of 34.3 ± 11.8% at a concentration of 1 µM. Conclusion. The findings are in support for a role of the Rho/ROK-mediated signaling in the regulation of muscle tone of human cavernous arteries. Waldkirch ES, Ückert S, Sohn M, Kuczyk MA, and Hedlund P. Rho kinase (Rok)-related proteins in human cavernous arteries: An immunohistochemical and functional approach. J Sex Med **;**:**-**. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Sexual Medicine
volume
9
issue
5
pages
1337 - 1343
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000303197800012
  • pmid:22375910
  • scopus:84860267828
ISSN
1743-6109
DOI
10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02662.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5e44f76d-29c5-4545-a678-8ef99795767d (old id 2432413)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22375910?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:55:44
date last changed
2022-01-29 07:45:06
@article{5e44f76d-29c5-4545-a678-8ef99795767d,
  abstract     = {{Introduction. Rho kinases (ROKs) cause calcium-independent modulation of smooth muscle contraction. A significant role for the RhoA/ROK pathway in mediating the contraction of the penile erectile tissue has been suggested. Moreover, it has been postulated that ROK activity might represent a key factor in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. Up until today, little is known on the significance of ROK and related proteins in the control of blood flow in the corpus cavernosum. Aim. To investigate by means of immunohistochemistry and organ bath studies the significance of the Rho pathway in human cavernous arteries. Main Outcome Measures. The expression of ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI in human cavernous arteries was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry; myographic studies were conducted in order to characterize the effects of the ROK inhibitor Y27632 on isolated cavernous arteries. Methods. Specimens of human cavernous arteries were processed for immunohistochemistry for ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI. Circular penile vascular segments were mounted in a tissue bath and the effects of increasing concentrations of the ROK inhibitor Y27632 on the tension induced by norepinephrine (NE, 1 µM) were investigated. Results. Alpha-actin immunoreactive cavernous arterioles also presented abundant staining specific for ROK1, ROK2, RhoA, and RhoGDI in the smooth musculature of the vascular wall. Cumulative addition of Y27632 dose-dependently reversed the tension induced by NE of isolated arterial segments. Y27632 produced relaxant responses with a reversion of tension of 34.3 ± 11.8% at a concentration of 1 µM. Conclusion. The findings are in support for a role of the Rho/ROK-mediated signaling in the regulation of muscle tone of human cavernous arteries. Waldkirch ES, Ückert S, Sohn M, Kuczyk MA, and Hedlund P. Rho kinase (Rok)-related proteins in human cavernous arteries: An immunohistochemical and functional approach. J Sex Med **;**:**-**.}},
  author       = {{Waldkirch, Eginhard S and Uckert, Stefan and Sohn, Michael and Kuczyk, Markus A and Hedlund, Petter}},
  issn         = {{1743-6109}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1337--1343}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Sexual Medicine}},
  title        = {{Rho Kinase (ROK)-Related Proteins in Human Cavernous Arteries: An Immunohistochemical and Functional Approach.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02662.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02662.x}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}