Relaxation mechanisms of cavernosum tissue in vitro neferine on the rabbit corpus

Aim： To investigate the relaxation mechanisms of neferine （Nef） on the rabbit corpus cavemosum tissue in vitro. Methods： Strips of rabbit corpus cavemosum were mounted in organ chambers. The effects of Nef were examined on isolated muscle strips precontracted with phenylephrine （PE） alone, in the presence of NW-nitro-L-arginine （LNNA, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor）, 1-H-[ 1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-tx]quinoxalin- 1-one （ODQ, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor）, indomethacin （cyclooxygenase inhibitor）, tetraethylammonium （Ca^2＋ -activated K^＋ channel blocker）, 4-aminopiridine （4-AP ,voltage dependent K^＋ channel blocker） and glibenclamide （ATP sensitive K^＋channel blocker）. The effects of Nef on KCl-induced contraction of isolated muscle strips were also investigated. The procedure of calcium absencecalcium addition was designed to observe the effect of Nef on two components of the contractile responses to PE based on the source of Ca^2＋ （extracellular vs. intracellular）. Results： Corpus cavemosum strips relaxed in response to Nef （10-9-10-4 mol/L） in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 4.60 × 10^-6 mol/L. However, they were not affected by LNNA, ODQ, indomethacin or K^＋-channel blockers. Nef （10^-6 mol/L, 10^-5 mol/L） concentration dependently reduced the maximal contraction response of isolated strips induced by KC1 to 79.3% ± 5.5% and 61.5% ±3.2%, respectively （P 〈 0.01）. In the calcium absence-calcium addition procedure, Nef 10.5 mol/L inhibited both intracellular calcium-dependent and extracellular calcium-dependent contraction induced by PE （2 × 10^5 mol/L） （P 〈 0.05）. The inhibition ratios were 26.2% ± 5.4% and 48.3% ±7.6%, respectively. Conclusion： The results of the present study suggest that Nef possesses a relaxant effect on rabbit corpus cavemosum tissues, which is attributable to the inhibition of extracellular Ca^2＋ influx and the inhibition of release of intracellular stored Ca^2＋, but not mediated by the release of nitric oxide, prostaglandins or by the activation of potassium channels.

Effects of tetrandrine on cytosolic free calcium concentration in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of rabbits

Aim:To study the relaxation mechanisms of tetrandrine(Tet)on the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.Methods: The corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells from New Zealand white rabbits were cultured in vitro.[Ca^(2+)]_i was measured by Fluorescence Ion Digital Imaging System,using Fluo-2/AM as a Ca^(2+)-sensitive fluorescent indicator. Results:Tet(1,10 and 100 μmol/L)had no effect on the resting [Ca^(2+)]_i(P>0.05).In the presence of extracellular Ca^(2+)(2.5 mmol/L),Tet(1,10 and 100 μmol/L)inhibited [Ca^(2+)]_i elevation induced by high K^+ and phenylephrine(PE) in a concentration-dependent manner(P<0.05).In calcium free solution containing egtaic acid,Tet(1 and 10 μmol/L) had no inhibitory effects on [Ca^(2+)]_i elevation induced by PE(P>0.05).However,Tet(100μmol/L)inhibited [Ca^(2+)]_i elevation induced by PE(P<0.05).Conclusion:Tet inhibited the Ca^(2+)influx from the extracellular site via voltage- activated Ca^(2+)channel and α_1-adrenoceptor-operated Ca^(2+)channel.At a high concentration,Tet might inhibit the cytosolic calcium pool release in cultured corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.This inhibitory action on [Ca^(2+)]_i might be one of the relaxation mechanisms of Tet on the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.(Asian J Androl 2006 Jul;8:405-409)

Deformation characterization method of typical double-walled turbine blade structure during casting process

To address the complex structures,large out-of-tolerance issues,and inconsistent quality of double-walled turbine blades,a mapping relationship between the structure and deformation was established based on a structural correlation study.Numerical simulations and pouring experiments were carried out based on the designed double-walled model,and a reliable displacement field model of the double-walled blade was established.A decoupling method for the displacement field of the double-walled blade castings was proposed,which decoupled the displacement field into bending,torsion,and expansion/shrinkage deformation vectors.Based on the displacement field analysis of the theoretical and physical models,an expansion/shrinkage model of double-walled blade structure castings was established.Furthermore,an experiment to determine the mapping relationship between double-walled construction and deformation was designed,which included the characteristic distribution distance and designed angle as structural parameters.The functional relationship between the deformation and the structural parameters was established based on a nonlinear regression method.