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Expression and distribution of key enzymes of the cyclic GMP signaling in the human clitoris: relation to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)

Ueckert, S. ; Oelke, M. ; Albrecht, K. ; Breitmeier, D. ; Kuczyk, M. A. and Hedlund, Petter LU (2011) In International Journal of Impotence Research 23(5). p.206-212
Abstract
The clitoris contributes to the normal female sexual response cycle. A significance of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) has been assumed in the control of clitoral vascular smooth muscle. As only a few investigations on the physiology of the vascular and non-vascular clitoral tissue have been carried out, knowledge on the mechanisms controlling this particular female genital organ is still vague. It has been suggested that human clitoral corpus cavernosum smooth muscle is regulated by nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP and related key enzymes, such as NO synthases (NOSs) and the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). The present study evaluated in the human clitoris, by means of immunohistochemistry, the expression and distribution of key enzymes... (More)
The clitoris contributes to the normal female sexual response cycle. A significance of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) has been assumed in the control of clitoral vascular smooth muscle. As only a few investigations on the physiology of the vascular and non-vascular clitoral tissue have been carried out, knowledge on the mechanisms controlling this particular female genital organ is still vague. It has been suggested that human clitoral corpus cavernosum smooth muscle is regulated by nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP and related key enzymes, such as NO synthases (NOSs) and the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). The present study evaluated in the human clitoris, by means of immunohistochemistry, the expression and distribution of key enzymes of the cyclic GMP pathway, such as the endothelial NOS, PDE2, PDE11 and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase type I (cGKI) in relation to the PDE5. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of PDE2, PDE5 and cGKI in the smooth muscle wall of blood vessels transversing the supepithelial and stromal space. Immunosignals specific for PDE2 were also identified in interstitial-like cells located in the basal epithelial layer. Staining for PDE11A was observed in single nerve trunks located in the clitoral stroma. The results are in favor of a role of the cyclic GMP signaling in the control of clitoral blood flow. It seems likely that PDE2 and PDE11 are also involved in the mechanism of local (neuro) transmission in the clitoris. International Journal of Impotence Research (2011) 23, 206-212; doi:10.1038/ijir.2011.29; published online 23 June 2011 (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
clitoris, cyclic GMP-binding phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes, interstitial-like cells, vascular smooth muscle
in
International Journal of Impotence Research
volume
23
issue
5
pages
206 - 212
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • wos:000294948400004
  • scopus:80052735229
  • pmid:21697861
ISSN
1476-5489
DOI
10.1038/ijir.2011.29
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3a6d1915-4b91-4ab6-88c4-fcc0b9d17357 (old id 2183494)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:13:52
date last changed
2022-02-10 17:45:36
@article{3a6d1915-4b91-4ab6-88c4-fcc0b9d17357,
  abstract     = {{The clitoris contributes to the normal female sexual response cycle. A significance of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) has been assumed in the control of clitoral vascular smooth muscle. As only a few investigations on the physiology of the vascular and non-vascular clitoral tissue have been carried out, knowledge on the mechanisms controlling this particular female genital organ is still vague. It has been suggested that human clitoral corpus cavernosum smooth muscle is regulated by nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP and related key enzymes, such as NO synthases (NOSs) and the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). The present study evaluated in the human clitoris, by means of immunohistochemistry, the expression and distribution of key enzymes of the cyclic GMP pathway, such as the endothelial NOS, PDE2, PDE11 and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase type I (cGKI) in relation to the PDE5. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of PDE2, PDE5 and cGKI in the smooth muscle wall of blood vessels transversing the supepithelial and stromal space. Immunosignals specific for PDE2 were also identified in interstitial-like cells located in the basal epithelial layer. Staining for PDE11A was observed in single nerve trunks located in the clitoral stroma. The results are in favor of a role of the cyclic GMP signaling in the control of clitoral blood flow. It seems likely that PDE2 and PDE11 are also involved in the mechanism of local (neuro) transmission in the clitoris. International Journal of Impotence Research (2011) 23, 206-212; doi:10.1038/ijir.2011.29; published online 23 June 2011}},
  author       = {{Ueckert, S. and Oelke, M. and Albrecht, K. and Breitmeier, D. and Kuczyk, M. A. and Hedlund, Petter}},
  issn         = {{1476-5489}},
  keywords     = {{clitoris; cyclic GMP-binding phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes; interstitial-like cells; vascular smooth muscle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{206--212}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Impotence Research}},
  title        = {{Expression and distribution of key enzymes of the cyclic GMP signaling in the human clitoris: relation to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2011.29}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/ijir.2011.29}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}