Y‐27632, an inhibitor of Rho‐kinase, antagonizes noradrenergic contractions in the rabbit and human penile corpus cavernosum

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Abstract
We have examined the effect of an inhibitor of Rho‐kinase, (+)‐(R)‐trans‐4‐(1‐aminoethyl)‐N‐(4‐pyridyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride monohydrate (Y‐27632), on the contractions elicited by noradrenergic nerve stimulation and by phenylephrine in the human and rabbit penile corpus cavernosum. In both tissues, after treatment with scopolamine (10 μM) and NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME; 300 μM), electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited noradrenergic contractions. These contractions were inhibited by Y‐27632 in a concentration‐dependent manner. The compound caused concentration‐dependent relaxation of phenylephrine‐contracted tissues, which were treated with scopolamine (10 μM), guanethidine (10 μM) and L‐NAME (300 μM). These results suggest that Rho‐kinase is involved in noradrenergic contractile pathway in the cavernosal smooth muscle of the penis. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 133, 455–458; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704124