C. Gocmen et al., Restorative effects of zinc and selenium on nitrergic relaxations impairedby cadmium in the mouse corpus cavernosum, TOX LETT, 111(3), 2000, pp. 229-234
We investigated whether Cd2+ intake (in drinking water, 15 ppm) for 30 days
can affect the nitrergic relaxations of the mouse corpus cavernosum (CC) a
nd whether Zn2+ (25 mg kg(-1) via a stomach tube at 48-h intervals) or sodi
um selenate (8 mu g kg(-1) day(-1) intraperitoneally) has a restorative act
ion on the impairment in the response. Relaxant responses of the CC obtaine
d from Cd2+-treated mice to electrical field stimulation (neurogenic) or ac
etylcholine (endothelium dependent) were significantly inhibited. A partial
restoration was observed in the nitrergic relaxation of the CC obtained fr
om Zn2+- or sodium selenate-co-treated animals. Neither agent exhibited any
significant action on the responses of the tissue from control mice. There
was no significant difference between Cd2+-treated and control mice in res
pect of the relaxation amplitude induced by sodium nitroprusside or papaver
ine. These results suggest that Cd2+ intake may impair the nitrergic relaxa
tion of the mouse CC, and, co-treatment with Zn2+ or sodium selenate may pa
rtially improve the nitrergic mechanisms in the tissue. (C) 2000 Elsevier S
cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.