The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (0.5, 1 and 2 microg) induces penile erection when injected into the paraventricular nucleus of male rats. The pro-erectile effect of SR 141716A occurs concomitantly with an increase in the concentration of NO2- and NO3- in the paraventricular dialysate obtained by means of intracerebral microdialysis. Both penile erection and NO2- increase induced by SR 141716A were reduced by the prior injection into the PVN of the cannabinoid CB1 agonists WIN 55,212-2 (5 microg) or HU 210 (5 microg), given into the paraventricular nucleus at doses unable to induce penile erection or to modify NO2- concentration. SR 141716A responses were also reduced by nitro-L-arginine methylester (20 microg), a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor, S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (20 microg), a selective neuronal NO synthase inhibitor, the excitatory amino acid NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine ((+)MK 801) (1 microg), or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (0.2 microg) injected into the PVN 15 min before SR 141716A. In contrast, the inducible NO synthase inhibitor L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (20 microg), the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (0.2 microg), the mixed dopamine receptor antagonist cis-flupenthixol (10 microg), and the oxytocin receptor antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8 -vasotocin (1 microg), were ineffective. Despite its inability to reduce penile erection and NO2- increase induced by SR 141716A when injected into the PVN, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8 -vasotocin (1 microg) reduced almost completely penile erection without reducing paraventricular NO2- increase when injected into the lateral ventricles 15 min before SR 141716A. The present results show that SR 141716 induces penile erection by a mechanism (possibly activation of excitatory amino acid neurotransmission), which causes the activation of neuronal NO synthase in paraventricular oxytocinergic neurons mediating penile erection.

The cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR-141716A induces penile erection in male rats: Involvement of paraventricular glutamic acid and nitric oxide

MELIS, MARIA ROSARIA;SUCCU, SALVATORA;SANNA, FABRIZIO;CASTELLI, MARIA PAOLA;ARGIOLAS, ANTONIO
2006-01-01

Abstract

The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (0.5, 1 and 2 microg) induces penile erection when injected into the paraventricular nucleus of male rats. The pro-erectile effect of SR 141716A occurs concomitantly with an increase in the concentration of NO2- and NO3- in the paraventricular dialysate obtained by means of intracerebral microdialysis. Both penile erection and NO2- increase induced by SR 141716A were reduced by the prior injection into the PVN of the cannabinoid CB1 agonists WIN 55,212-2 (5 microg) or HU 210 (5 microg), given into the paraventricular nucleus at doses unable to induce penile erection or to modify NO2- concentration. SR 141716A responses were also reduced by nitro-L-arginine methylester (20 microg), a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor, S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (20 microg), a selective neuronal NO synthase inhibitor, the excitatory amino acid NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine ((+)MK 801) (1 microg), or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (0.2 microg) injected into the PVN 15 min before SR 141716A. In contrast, the inducible NO synthase inhibitor L-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (20 microg), the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (0.2 microg), the mixed dopamine receptor antagonist cis-flupenthixol (10 microg), and the oxytocin receptor antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8 -vasotocin (1 microg), were ineffective. Despite its inability to reduce penile erection and NO2- increase induced by SR 141716A when injected into the PVN, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-Orn8 -vasotocin (1 microg) reduced almost completely penile erection without reducing paraventricular NO2- increase when injected into the lateral ventricles 15 min before SR 141716A. The present results show that SR 141716 induces penile erection by a mechanism (possibly activation of excitatory amino acid neurotransmission), which causes the activation of neuronal NO synthase in paraventricular oxytocinergic neurons mediating penile erection.
2006
CB1 receptors, oxytocin, glutamic acid, nitric oxide, paraventricular nucleus; CB1 recettori, ossitocina, acido glutamico, erezione peniena, nucleo paraventricolare
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/18792
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