CLONING OF A NOVEL NEURONAL NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE EXPRESSED IN PENIS AND LOWER URINARY-TRACT

The neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is the main NOS isoform in t he urogenital tract catalyzing the synthesis of nitric oxide, the medi ator of penile erection and presumably an important factor in the cont rol of urinary voiding. We have cloned from the rat penile corpora cav ernosa a cDNA coding for a novel nNOS differing from the cerebellar nN OS by the presence of a 102 nucleotides stretch and other features. Th is new species is the only nNOS mRNA expressed in the rat penis, ureth ra, prostate, and skeletal muscle, coexists with the cerebellar nNOS i n the pelvic plexus and bladder, and is detectable in the cerebellum. The novel insert is present in human penile RNA and is transcribed fro m intron 16. The features and distribution of the penile nNOS suggest that it is may be regulated differentially from the cerebellar nNOS. ( C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.