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Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Expression in Human and Rat Lower Urinary Tract Tissues and the Effect of Tadalafil on Prostate Gland Oxygenation in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Annamaria Morelli, Erica Sarchielli, Paolo Comeglio, Sandra Filippi, Rosa Mancina, Mauro Gacci, Linda Vignozzi, Marco Carini et al.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011

143 citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In humans, prostate phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5) expression was prominently localized in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the vascular bed, suggesting a possible action of PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) on prostate blood flow. AIM: To investigate PDE5 expression in human and rat lower urinary tract (LUT) tissues, including vasculature, and determine the effects of PDE5 inhibition with tadalafil on prostatic blood perfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Human vesicular-deferential arteries (which originate from the inferior vesical artery, the main arterial source of blood supply to the bladder and prostate) were analyzed for PDE5 expression and activity. The effects of tadalafil on prostate oxygenation were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), characterized by ischemia/hypoxia of the genitourinary tract. METHODS: PDE5 expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. SHR were treated with tadalafil (2 mg/kg/day) for 1, 7, or 28 days and compared with untreated SHR and the unaffected counterpart Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Prostate oxygenation was detected by Hypoxyprobe-1 and hypoxia markers (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α[HIF-1α] and endothelin-1 type B [ETB]) immunostaining. RESULTS: Human vesicular-deferential artery expressed high levels of PDE5, similar to corpora cavernosa, immunolocalized in the endothelial and smooth muscle layer. In these arteries, tadalafil inhibited…

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