The primate model has been used for investigations on the physiology and ph
armacology of erection. Recent in vitro investigations indicate that nitric
oxide (NO)-donor act as the mediator of penile erection, but it is unclear
whether NO-donor could enhance the relaxation effect of sildenafil on diab
etic penile smooth muscle. To determine the relaxation effect of NO-donor o
n diabetic penile smooth muscle, we studied strips of corpus cavernosum tis
sue obtained from 15 diabetic cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). Cont
raction was induced on isolated strips of corporal smooth muscle by norepin
ephrine; then relaxation was assessed with the administration of two agents
: selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDES) inhibitor (sildenafil citrate)
and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), an NO-donor, and combination of
both agents. Analysis of variance was used to compare the responses to the
different agents under various treatments. It was concluded that NO-donor
could not enhance the relaxation effect of sildenafil on corpus cavernosum
of diabetic monkey.