Contractile Response of Horse Deep Dorsal Penile Vein to Histamine
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International Journal of Impotence Research (2002) 14, 85–92 ß 2002 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0955-9930/02 $25.00 www.nature.com/ijir Contractile response of horse deep dorsal penile vein to histamine AC Martı´nez1, D Prieto1, M Herna´ndez1, A Garcı´a-Sacrista´n1 and S Benedito1* 1Seccio´n Departamental de Fisiologı´a, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain The present investigation was designed to evaluate the effect of histamine on isolated rings of horse deep dorsal penile vein. Under precontracted or basal conditions, histamine evoked an endothelium-independent contraction. Preincubation of the vein rings with the selective H1 receptor antagonist, mepyramine, shifted the concentration – response curve for histamine and to the H1 receptor agonist 2-pyridylethylamine to the right in a competitive manner. Pretreatment with cimetidine, a specific H2 receptor antagonist, did not modify the pEC50 and maximal contraction of the histamine response. Cimetidine and propranolol failed to induce a change in the relaxation caused by dimaprit, the H2 receptor agonist. Histamine contraction was unaffected by thioperamide, the specific H3 receptor antagonist. (R)-a-methylhistamine, the H3 receptor agonist, also induced contractions which persisted in the presence of either thioperamide or tetrodotoxin. These data indicate that horse deep dorsal penile vein shows an endothelium-independent contraction response to histamine, mainly mediated by H1 receptors. International Journal of Impotence Research (2002) 14, 85–92. DOI: 10.1038=sj=ijir=3900830 Keywords: deep dorsal penile vein; histamine; histamine receptors; H1 receptor; penile erection Introduction treatment of impotency,5,6 the role played by vasoactive factors such as cytokines, autacoids and=or neurotransmitters in maintaining normal The integrity of the vasculature of the penis is penile function is not yet fully understood. Post- essential for normal erectile function, with vascular junctional a-andb-adrenoceptors and prejunctional damage being one of the most common pathological a2-adrenoceptors have been identified in corpus 1 causes of erectile dysfunction. Under both normal cavernosum7 and in penile resistance (helicine) and pathological conditions, pressure buildup in the arteries, which control blood flow between the corpus cavernosum during erection depends mainly systemic arterial circulation and cavernous sinu- on the interaction between the arterial inflow system soids.8,9 In circumflex veins10 and in the deep dorsal and the venous draining system. It should be penile vein,11 a-adrenoceptor functions have also pointed out that venous draining vessels do not been demonstrated. Histamine has also been pro- fully collapse and flow through the penis continues posed as a possible mediator of penile erection on 2 throughout the erection period. The active con- the grounds that histamine-containing mastocytes tribution of penile veins to the reduction in venous have been identified in erectile tissue, coupled with outflow has not been fully established, but the the fact that the administration of this amine to the findings of several studies suggest that an active cavernous body is capable of evoking an erec- mechanism of venous occlusion adds to passive tion.12,13 Kirkeby et al,10 however, found that the compression of the outflow pathway resulting from histamine-induced relaxation of precontracted hu- 1,3 cavernous sinusoidal distension. Moreover, some man corpus cavernosum preparations and circum- authors claim that large veins including the deep flex veins was not significantly affected by blockage dorsal veins might be involved in the physiology of 14 of H1 and H2 receptors. In contrast, Kim et al, erection.4 reported that the histamine H1 receptor was the Though the discovery of the selective and potent main functional receptor subtype mediating smooth inhibitor of type V cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase, muscle contraction in the rabbit corpus cavernosum, sildenafil, has meant considerable advance in the yet other authors have shown the involvement of H2 receptors and no evidence of H1 receptor function in the histamine-induced relaxation of human caver- nosal strips.15 Moreover, our recent observations *Correspondence: S Benedito, Seccio´n Departamental de Fisiologı´a, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, indicate that the effect of histamine on dorsal penile 28040 Madrid, Spain. arteries is quite variable among different species E-mail: [email protected] (human, horse and rabbit).16 – 18 This amine has been Received 27 August 2001; accepted 21 November 2001 shown to elicit vasodilation, vasoconstriction, or a Contractile response of horse deep dorsal penile vein to histamine AC Martı´nez et al 86 combination of both these responses via stimulation (1074 M), was interpreted to indicate a non-func- of H1 receptors, H2 receptors or both. Taken tional endothelium. together, the results of these studies point to a role For experiments in which the effect of agonists on of this endogenous amine in the regulation of penile vein rings precontracted with noradrenaline function. (1076 M) (2.58 Æ 0.21 g; n ¼ 30) were examined, the This study was designed to determine the results are given as a percentage of the vascular response of the horse deep dorsal penile vein to contraction induced by this preconstrictor. These histamine, to characterise the functionally active noradrenaline concentrations yielded a stable level histamine receptors and to examine the dependence of contraction of sufficient duration to permit the of the histamine-induced response on the presence analysis of the agonist response. Effects observed in of the endothelial layer. preparations at basal tone were expressed as a percentage of the contractile response to K-PSS shown by each vessel (4.30 Æ 0.33 g; n ¼ 30). Materials and methods Since consecutive cumulative concentration – response curves to histamine indicated a desensiti- sation effect that modified the agonist response; only Vascular preparations and measurement of tension one concentration – response curve per vein ring was obtained under precontracted and basal condi- tions. Thus, it was necessary to use consecutive The penile tracts of young horses were obtained segments from the same animal in parallel experi- from a local slaughterhouse shortly after they were ments, with one ring acting as the control for the killed. The entire penis was transported to the other. Cumulative concentration – response curves laboratory in ice-cold physiological saline solution for histamine and various histaminergic agonists (PSS) to minimise tissue metabolism. were obtained by increasing the organ bath concen- The deep dorsal vein was identified and dissected tration in half-log-unit steps. free from surrounding connective tissue with the aid In order to examine the activity of each individual of a stereomicroscope (Nikon SMZ 2B). Vessel rings histamine receptor subtype, a given receptor agonist approximately 3 mm in length were transferred to was tested after pretreatment with a specific antago- organ baths containing PSS at 37C and aerated with nist to the other two receptor subtypes. a mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2 to maintain the pH at 7.4. The rings were mounted between two parallel L-shaped stainless steel wires (150 mm diameter). Analysis of results The endothelium of some rings was mechanically removed by gentle rubbing of the intimal surface with a stainless steel wire. Special care was taken to The agonist concentration required to give a half- avoid damage to the endothelium. One wire was maximal response (EC50) was determined for each fixed to a displacement unit allowing fine adjust- concentration – response curve by computerised ment of tension while the other was attached to a iteration. Responses and logarithmic concentrations force transducer (Grass FT03C). Isometric tension were fitted to the Hill equation using the GraphPAD was recorded on a polygraph (Houston D-5236-5). InPlot, non-linear curve fitting programme for The preparations were allowed to equilibrate for personal computers (GraphPAD Software, San Die- about 30 min in PSS and washed with fresh (37C) go, CA, USA). Sensitivities to the agonists are given PSS at 15 min intervals. After this equilibration in terms of pEC50 values, defined as the negative period, each ring was stretched in a stepwise logarithm of the EC50 for the agonists used. fashion to the optimal point of its length-tension Antagonist potency was assessed by calculating ratio ( 1 g). the pA2 value determined from the Schild plot analysis.19 In this method, the log concentration ratio (CR)-1 of the agonist is plotted against the log Experimental procedure concentration of the antagonists and these plots are then subjected to linear regression analysis. The concentration ratio denotes the ratio of the EC50 In all the experiments, the vein rings were exposed value obtained in the presence and absence of a to a twice depolarising potassium solution (119 mM, given concentration of antagonist. The slope of the K-PSS) at intervals of about 30 min. Schild plot is an indication of the nature of the The integrity of the vascular endothelium was antagonism. The slope should ideally be 1 if the confirmed by immediate relaxation (80 – 100%) response involves simple competitive antagonism at induced by acetylcholine (1076 M) in vessels pre- one receptor subtype only. Provided the regression contracted by noradrenaline. A lack of relaxation of the Schild plot is linear and the slope is not