[Expressions of phospho-Erk1/2 and phospho-Akt1 in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the expressions of phosphor Erk1/2 (P-Erk1/2) and phosphor Akt1 (P-Akt1) in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive (SH) and normotensive rats, and to investigate their relationship with penile erectile function. METHODS: A series of electric stimuli were applied to the corpus cavernosum nerves of 8 SH rats, the changes of ICP/MAP observed continuously, and the expressions of P-Erk1/2 and P-Akt1 in the corpus cavernosum detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Another 8 male WKY rats were taken as controls. RESULTS: ICP/MAP was significantly lower in the SH rats than in the controls (P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of P-Erk1 and P-Erk2 and the protein expression of P-Erk1/2 were significantly increased in the SH group (0.81 +/- 0.05, 0.91 +/- 0.06 and 54.22 +/- 10.05), as compared with 0.42 +/- 0.04, 0.68 +/- 0.14 and 7.05 +/- 1.45 in the WKY rats (P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of P-Akt exhibited no significant differences between the SH and control groups (0.90 +/- 0.05 and 11.17 +/- 2.21 versus 0.92 +/- 0.06 and 10.91 +/- 1.86, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Erectile dysfunction in hypertension patients is associated with the overexpression of P-Erk1/2 in the cavernous tissue, but not obviously correlated with the expression of P-Akt1.