The role of cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on alpha(1)-ad
renoceptor alpha(1)-receptor) induced smooth muscle contractions in sy
mptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was investigated. Applica
tion of the selective alpha(1)-receptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) ind
uced fully reversible contractions in a dose-dependent fashion. Phosph
odiesterase (PDE) inhibitors blocking the degradation of cAMP suppress
ed the PE induced contractions as follows: theophylline (1 mM), 91.1 /- 1.4%; papaverine (0.5 mM), 822.8 +/- 3.2%; milrinone (0.5 mM), 68.2
+/- 0.6%. Forskolin (50 mu M), which elevates cAMP through direct act
ivation of adenylatecyclase (AC), inhibited the PE induced contraction
s by 82.4 +/- 3.6%. To further increase the intracellular cAMP concent
ration ([cAMP](i)), the membrane permeable cAMP analogue N-6-2'-O-dibu
tyryladenosine derivative (dBcAMP; 1 mM) was applied and reduced the P
E evoked contractions by 69.8 +/- 2.3%. We conclude that elevation of
[cAMP](i) is an important step in inducing smooth muscle relaxation. (
C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.