Gene transfer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase partially restores nitric oxide synthesis and erectile function in streptozotocin diabetic rats

PURPOSE: We determined whether adenoviral gene transfer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to the penis of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats could improve the impaired erectile response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two experimental groups of animals were transfected with adenoviruses, including streptozotocin (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri) diabetic rats with AdCMVbetagal and streptozotocin diabetic rats with AdCMVeNOS. At 1 to 2 days after transfection these study animals underwent cavernous nerve stimulation to assess erectile function and their responses were compared with those of age matched control rats. In control and transfected streptozotocin diabetic rats eNOS and neuronal NOS (nNOS) were examined by Western blot analysis. Constitutive and inducible NOS activities were evaluated in the presence and absence of calcium by L-arginine to L-citrulline conversion and nitrate plus nitrite levels were measured. In control and streptozotocin diabetic penes beta-galactosidase activity and localization were determined. RESULTS: After transfection with AdCMVbetagal beta-galactosidase was localized to the endothelium and smooth muscle cells of the streptozotocin diabetic rat penis. Streptozotocin diabetic rats had a significant decrease in erectile function, as determined by peak and total intracavernous pressure (area under the curve) after cavernous nerve stimulation compared with control rats. Streptozotocin diabetic rats transfected with AdCMVeNOS had peak intracavernous pressure and area under the curve similar to those in control animals. This change in erectile function was a result of eNOS over expression with an increase in eNOS protein expression and constitutive NOS activity as well as an increase in nitric oxide biosynthesis, as reflected by an increase in cavernous nitrate plus nitrite formation. There was no change in nNOS protein expression or calcium independent conversion of NOS (inducible NOS activity). CONCLUSIONS: Adenoviral gene transfer of eNOS significantly increased peak and total intracavernous pressure to cavernous nerve stimulation in streptozotocin diabetic rats to a value similar to the response observed in control rats. Our results suggest that eNOS contributes significantly to the physiology of penile erection. These data demonstrate that in vivo adenoviral gene transfer of eNOS can physiologically improve erectile function in the streptozotocin diabetic rat.     

异丙酚对高血压大鼠胸主动脉内皮型一氧化氮合酶和诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达的影响

目的 评价异丙酚对高血压大鼠胸主动脉内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)表达的影响.方法 SD大鼠,雌雄各半,体重240～ 280 g,采用皮下注射去氧皮质酮的方法制备高血压模型,采用随机数字表法,将64只造模成功的大鼠随机分为4组(n＝16):高血压组(H组)、小剂量异丙酚组(P1组)、中剂量异丙酚组(P2组)和大剂量异丙酚组(P3组).P1组、P2组和P3组分别静脉输注异丙酚20、30、40 mg·kg-1·h-13 h,H组给予等容量生理盐水.分别于给药前、给药1h、3h时记录平均动脉压(MAP).给药3h时处死大鼠,摘眼球法采集血样,硝酸还原酶法测定血清一氧化氮(N0)浓度,取胸主动脉,采用RT-PCR和Western blot法测定eNOS mRNA、iNOS mRNA及其蛋白表达水平.结果 与H组比较,P1组、P2组和P3组给药3h时MAP降低,血清NO浓度升高,主动脉eNOS mRNA及其蛋白表达上调,主动脉iNOS mRNA及其蛋白表达下调,且呈剂量依赖性(P<0.05或0.01).结论 异丙酚降低高血压大鼠血压的机制与下调iNOS表达,上调血管内皮细胞eNOS表达,促进NO释放有关.     

Changes in nitric oxide and expression of nitric oxide synthase in spinal cord after acute traumatic injury in rats

The aim of this study was to observe the time course of NO production and NOS expression in the spinal cord following acute traumatic injury. Rat spinal cord was injured by extradural static weight-compression, which resulted in an incomplete transverse spinal cord lesion with paralysis of the lower extremities. Using this model, measurement of NO by microdialysis and Griess reaction and histological and immunohistochemical examinations using polyclonal antibodies to nNOS and iNOS were performed from immediately to 14 days after injury. In injured cord, the amount of NO markedly increased immediately after injury and gradually decreased between 1 and 12 h after injury. A second wave of increase in NO level was observed at 24 h and 3 days after injury. Histologically, hematomas and necrotic changes were observed after injury and demyelination of nerve fibers increased with time in the compressed segment. Immunohistochemically, the number of cells with expression of nNOS was increased immediately to 12 h after injury. Expression of iNOS was observed from 12 h to 3 days after injury. These findings suggested that the initial maximal increase of NO production might be caused mainly by nNOS and that the second wave of increase in NO might be due mainly to iNOS.     

Noncholinergic penile erection in mice lacking the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

With the current understanding that nitric oxide (NO) mediates penile erection, the endothelial isoform of NO synthase (eNOS) has been implicated in this function. We undertook this study applying transgenic mice with targeted deletion of the eNOS gene (eNOS-/- mice) as an experimental approach to evaluate the importance of eNOS in cholinergically stimulated erectile function in vivo. Combined pharmacostimulation with intracavernosal carbachol (3 ng) administration and submaximal cavernous nerve (CN) electrical stimulation (16 Hz, 5 millisecond, 1 V) simultaneous with intracavernosal pressure (ICP) monitoring, and both biochemical assay of NO synthase activity and Western blot analysis of eNOS protein content in penile tissue, were performed on eNOS-/- mice and wild-type controls. Combined intracavernosal carbachol administration and submaximal CN electrical stimulation raised the recorded ICP, elicited by CN electrical stimulation alone in wild-type mice (from 35.7 +/- 2.7 to 48.1 +/- 5.5 mm Hg, P < .05) but not in eNOS-/ - mice (from 54.9 +/- 6.3 to 51.0 +/- 9.5 mm Hg, not significant [NS]). Pretreatment with the nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 mg intracavernosally) blocked electrically stimulated ICP responses in eNOS-/- mice to baseline levels (37.8 +/- 4.4 vs 12.7 +/- 4.0 mm Hg, P < .05). In penes of eNOS-/- mice, approximately 60% NO synthase activity of wild-type penis levels was retained (NS), and eNOS protein was absent. We concluded that eNOS-/- mice preserve erectile function on the basis of a noncholinergic but NO-dependent mechanism and that eNOS physiologically mediates penile erection under cholinergic stimulation.     

严重烧伤大鼠胸腺诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达对细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察严重烧伤大鼠胸腺诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)表达对胸腺细胞凋亡的影响,探讨一氧化氮(NO)与胸腺病理损害的关系。方法将56只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组(8只)、烧伤组(24只)、烧伤 硫酸甲基异硫脲(SMT)组(24只)。后两组大鼠背部造成30％TBSAⅢ度烧伤,伤后分别立即静脉注射等渗盐水、等渗盐水 SMT(7．5 mg／kg);对照组不予烧伤及SMT处理。两烧伤组分别于伤后6、24、72 h检测胸腺重量、胸腺细胞凋亡情况(原位缺口末端标记法)、胸腺iNOS表达情况(免疫组织化学染色法),采用体视学方法测定阳性细胞密度,每时相点8只;同时测定对照组相应指标。结果烧伤组大鼠伤后24、72 h胸腺重量分别为(153±14)、(91±22)mg,明显轻于对照组[(243±12)mg,P<0．01];烧伤 SMT组此时明显高于烧伤组(P<0．01)。对照组大鼠胸腺皮、髓质可见散在少量凋亡阳性细胞、iNOS阳性细胞。烧伤组大鼠伤后6 h胸腺皮质有凋亡阳性细胞及少量iNOS阳性细胞;伤后24 h时凋亡阳性细胞分布于被膜下皮质、皮髓交界处及髓质,iNOS阳性细胞广泛出现在小叶间隔内血管旁;伤后72 h时凋亡阳性细胞使胸腺皮质广泛呈现棕褐色;伤后6～72 h烧伤组iNOS阳性细胞呈进行性增加(P<0．05)。烧伤 SMT组大鼠伤后各时相点阳性细胞较少且分布不均,凋亡灶少见,未见iNOS阳性细胞。烧伤组大鼠伤后24、72 h凋亡阳性细胞密度分别为(2．428±0．728)×10-5／μm3、(5．586±1．233)×10-5／μm3,高于对照组和烧伤 SMT组(P<0．01)。结论严重烧伤大鼠伤后早期胸腺细胞凋亡率增加,iNOS在胸腺表达增强并促进了胸腺细胞凋亡;SMT则能部分改善这一现象。     

Increased expression of nitric oxide synthase in human lung transplants after nitric oxide inhalation

BACKGROUND: The effects of the ischemia-reperfusion process of organ transplantation on nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) in humans are unknown. The effects of NO inhalation on endogenous NOS expression and activity are controversial. The authors hypothesized that NO inhalation may affect ischemia-reperfusion-induced alterations of the endogenous NOS system. METHODS: The authors performed lung biopsy on patients in a randomized phase II clinical trial of NO inhalation during lung transplantation. After lung implantation, 20 ppm of NO or placebo gas was administered 10 min after the start of reperfusion. Lung tissues were collected from 20 patients (NO, n=9; placebo, n=11) after cold and warm ischemia, 1 hr and 2 hr after reperfusion. The protein levels of NOS isoforms were analyzed by Western blotting and the total NOS activity was measured. RESULTS: The protein levels of inducible NOS did not change significantly in either of the groups. In contrast, during the 2-hr reperfusion period, constitutive NOS (neuronal NOS [nNOS] and endothelial NOS) tended to decrease in the placebo group, but gradually increased in the NO group. After 2 hr of reperfusion, the nNOS protein in the NO group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (P <0.05). However, the total NOS activity remained at low levels in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: NO inhalation-induced increase of constitutive NOS proteins indicates the interaction between inhaled NO molecules and lung tissues. However, the activity of these newly synthesized NOS proteins remains suppressed during the ischemia-reperfusion period of lung transplantation.     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶在单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾脏的表达

目的:探讨诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)在单侧输尿管梗阻(UUO)大鼠术侧肾脏的表达.方法:建立左侧输尿管梗阻模型(UUO组),设假手术组为对照.3 d后应用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测iNOS的mRNA水平.结果:与对照组相比,UUO组大鼠肾脏出现明显病理变化,并且其iNOS mRNA表达明显增加.结论:iNOS参与UUO的发生和发展的病理过程.     

Effect of aging on expression of nitric oxide synthase I and activity of nitric oxide synthase in rat penis

Aim: To investigate the effect of aging on the expression of nitric oxide synthase I (NOS I) and the activity of NOS in rat penis. Methods: Sixty male rats from 3 age groups (adult, old and senescent) were investigated. The expression of NOS I protein and mRNA in rat penis were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively and the NOS activity, with ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Results: In the old and senescent group, NOS I protein expression was significantly decreased as compared with the adult. NOS I mRNA expression was well correlated with the protein expression. NOS activity was not statistically different between the adult and old groups, but it was significantly reduced in the senescent compared with the adult group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The aging-induced decreases in NOS I expression and NOS activity may be one of the main mechanisms leading to erectile dysfunction in the senescent rats.     

人体阴茎海绵体神经一氧化氮合成酶免疫组织化学研究

目的探讨人体阴茎海绵体神经中一氧化氮合成酶的分布情况。方法采用人体组织切片苏木素-伊红(HE)染色和神经性一氧化氮合成酶(nNOS)免疫组织化学染色方法，对1具成人尸体阴茎海绵体神经及相关组织进行染色分析。结果前列腺后外侧神经束中存在nNOS神经元细胞体和神经纤维。神经元细胞胞浆内可见均匀分布棕黄色颗粒，神经纤维则可见散在棕黄色颗粒。阴茎干背神经中，4条神经纤维截面发现有棕黄色颗粒，其他神经纤维均未发现棕黄色颗粒。龟头部组织中，未发现nNOS棕黄色颗粒神经纤维。结论前列腺后外侧阴茎海绵体神经束中存在nNOS，并且包含nNOS神经节细胞，它发出nNOS神经纤维到达阴茎海绵体，与背神经同行。     

Differential nitric oxide synthase expression during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion

BACKGROUND: In recent years the important role of nitric oxide in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury has been increasingly recognised. The prevailing consensus is that reperfusion injury may be partly the result of decreased production of nitric oxide from endothelial nitric oxide synthase and excessive production of nitric oxide from the inducible isoform. We therefore undertook this study to characterize the expression of different nitric oxide synthase isoforms during hepatic reperfusion. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n = 6) were subjected to 45 minutes of partial hepatic ischemia (left lateral and median lobes) followed by 6 hours of reperfusion. Control animals (n = 6) were subjected to sham laparotomy. The expression of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Liver sections were also stained with nitrotyrosine antibody, a specific marker of protein damage induced by peroxynitrite (a highly reactive free radical formed from nitric oxide). RESULTS: Liver sections from all the control animals showed normal expression of the endothelial isoform and no expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Livers from all the animals subjected to hepatic ischemia showed decreased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and all but one animal from this group showed expression of the inducible isoform both in inflammatory cells and in hepatocytes. Western blotting confirmed these findings. Staining with the antinitrotyrosine antibody was also confined to five liver sections from animals subjected to hepatic ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: During the reperfusion period after hepatic ischemia, endothelial nitric oxide synthase is downregulated while inducible nitric oxide synthase is expressed in both hepatocytes and inflammatory cells. The presence of nitrotyrosine in livers subjected to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion suggests that the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase plays an important role in mediating reperfusion injury in this model.     

衰老对大鼠阴茎海绵体NOS I的表达和NOS活性的影响

目的 :探讨衰老对大鼠阴茎海绵体一氧化氮合酶Ⅰ (NOSⅠ)mRNA、蛋白的表达和NOS活性的影响。　方法 :30只雄性SD大鼠按不同月龄分为成年组、老年组和衰老组 ,应用Western印迹、RT PCR方法分别检测不同年龄组阴茎海绵体NOSⅠ蛋白及mRNA的表达 ;用紫外分光光度计测定不同年龄组阴茎海绵体NOS的活性。　结果 :成年组NOSⅠ 蛋白的表达量最高 ,老年组和衰老组显著降低 ,分别为成年组的 75 .6 %和 6 1.2 % ;NOSⅠmRNA的表达与蛋白表达的变化一致 ;老年组NOS活性与成年组差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,衰老组NOS活性明显降低 ,是成年组的70 .4 % ,并且差异非常显著 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论 :衰老引起NOSⅠ 蛋白及mRNA的表达降低和NOS活性的显著降低 ,可能是老年性阴茎勃起功能障碍的主要机制之一。     

Changes in nitric oxide synthase expression in young and adult rats after spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical meaning of the changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and activity after spinal cord injury (SCI) according to the age of the experiment animal. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ten 5- and 16-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were laminectomized at T10 and SCI induced at this level using a New York impactor. Outcome measures to assess SCI utilized the Basso-Beatti-Bresnahan scale to quantitate hind limb motor dysfunction as a functional outcome measure. NOS isoforms (nNOS, neuronal NOS; iNOS, inducible NOS; and eNOS, endothelial NOS) were also immunolocalized in sections of control and spinal cord injury in the two sample groups using specific monoclonal antibodies. Student's t-test evaluated the difference between the young and adult rats, and P<0.05 was considered as significant value. RESULT: As the expression of nNOS on the spinal gray matter of the adult rat decreased, eNOS activity increased. Different from the adult rat, expression of the nNOS in the young rat was maintained until 1 day after SCI, and compared with the adult rat; eNOS activity was increased in the vessels from the damaged gray matter area after 7 days of SCI. iNOS expression was maintained until the 7th day of SCI on the adult rat, but iNOS expression after 7 days of SCI on young rat decreased. The young rat showed relatively less motor disability on the hind limb when compared with the adult rat, and had a rapid recovery. CONCLUSION: Neural protective eNOS activity increased after SCI in the young rat, and neural destructive iNOS expression was more remarkable in the adult rat.