Recently, an important role has been attributed to endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor and a mitogenic factor. The prostate and the vascular endothelium, including that of the penis, are known to produce ET-1. Furthermore, it has been shown that there are two receptor subtypes in the penis, ETa and ETb. Radiation treatment is known to cause an increase in ET-1 and may be a fundamental cause of radiation-associated impotence (RAI). / The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of ET-1 in RAI. In the first part of our study, rats were divided into groups according to a different radiation dose. A ET-1 time course in tissue and serum was established. Markedly higher ET-1 levels were found in a high radiation dose compared with a lower dose and in the control group. / In the second part of the study, rats underwent evaluation of erectile function after radiation therapy. Subsequently, rats were given an antagonist of ETa (BQ-123) to assess whether the erectile response could be potentiated. Our results show that the use of this specific antagonist results in an improved erectile activity in a rat animal model. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.20966 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Merlin, Scott L. |
| Contributors | Brock, Gerald (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Division of Surgical Research.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001652293, proquestno: MQ50837, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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