Effects of zinc protoporphyrin and NO synthase inhibitor on cyclic guanosine monophosphate content in penile tissue of rats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of carbon monoxide (CO) synthase inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) and nitrous oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L‐NAME on cGMP content in penile tissue of rats and the relation of them to erectile dysfunction. Thirty male Sprage‐Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (normal control group, ZnPP group and L‐NAME group) and given the physiological saline, ZnPP (45µmol/kg) and L‐NAME (10mg/kg) each group, then the rats sacrificed 3 days later. The penis were made into homogenate to determine the content of nitric oxide synthase(NOS), NO, CO and cGMP. Compared with control group, the content of CO, NOS, NO and cGMP decreased in the ZnPP group and L‐NAME group, and the statistical difference was significant. The results suggest that the CO synthase inhibitor ZnPP and NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME can reduce the content of CO, NO and cGMP that contain in the rat penis, however, the concrete mechanism still needs further research.