枸杞多糖刺激腦中一氧化氮影響大鼠之性行為表現
黃建榮1、薛又仁1、蔡東湖2、葉桂鶯3、邱文祥1
1台北市立聯合醫院仁愛院區泌尿科, 國立陽明大學醫學院傳醫所
2國立聯合大學、3弘光科技大學物理治療學系
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity mediates Lycium barbarum
polysaccharides-enhanced sexual performance
Andy C. Huang1, Thomas Y. Hsueh1, Tung-Hu Tsai2, Kuei-Ying Yeh3, Allen W. Chiu1
1 Department of Urology, Department of Surgery, Taipei City Hospital & Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
2Department of Chemical Engineering, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan
3Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine and Health Care, HungKuang University
Purpose: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is known to promote reproductive functions. However, its role in noncontact erection (NCE) of penis initiated by brain regions including medial preoptic area (MPOA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) regions responsible for sexual behavior has not been investigated. Therefore, this study initially investigated the effects of LBP on male sexual function, and subsequently, the mechanistic insight was investigated through assessing the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the MPOA and PVN.
Objectives The adult male rats were treated with 100 mg/kg of LBP or vehicle by oral gavage. Before and after 14 days of treatment, copulatory behavior and noncontact erection (NCE) were recorded. After the last behavioral test, the brain was isolated to measure nNOS expression in the MPOA and PVN.
Materials and Methods: The adult male rats were treated with 100 mg/kg of LBP or vehicle by oral gavage. Before and after 14 days of treatment, copulatory behavior and noncontact erection (NCE) were recorded. After the last behavioral test, the brain was isolated to measure nNOS expression in the MPOA and PVN.
Results: Data showed that LBP treatment significantly increased both the frequencies of intromission as well as ejaculation, compared to the control group. Whereas, a reduced post-ejaculatory interval was observed compared to same group on day 0. Furthermore, the treatment led to an increased intromission ratio, inter-intromission interval, and the number of MPOA nNOSimmunoreactive cells (nNOS-ir). Additionally, a significantly positive correlation between ejaculation frequency and MPOA nNOS-ir cells was recorded. Of note, LBP treatment had no effects on NCE and PVN nNOS-ir expression.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that LBP enhances sexual behavior through increased nNOS expression in theMPOA inmale rats.