Qiu Xuefeng, Villalta Jackie, Lin Guiting, Lue Tom F
Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0738, USA.
J Androl. 2012 Jul-Aug;33(4):529-35. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.111.014936. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), which is a well-known toxic gas, has recently been recognized as a biological messenger that plays an important role in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Relatively high levels of H(2)S have been discovered in mammalian tissues. It is mainly synthesized by 2 enzymes, including cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lysase, which utilize L-cysteine as substrate to produce H(2)S. H(2)S has been demonstrated to exhibit potent vasodilator activity both in vitro and in vivo by relaxing vascular smooth muscle. Recently, H(2)S has been discovered in penile tissue with smooth muscle relaxant effects. Furthermore, other effects of H(2)S could play a role in the physiology of erection. Understanding H(2)S in the physiology of erection might provide alternative erectile dysfunction strategies for those patients with poor or no response to type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors. This review intends to present the H(2)S pathway in penile tissue and the potential role of H(2)S in the physiology of erections.
硫化氢（H₂S）是一种众所周知的有毒气体，最近被认为是一种生物信使，在生理和病理生理状态中发挥重要作用。在哺乳动物组织中已发现相对高水平的H₂S。它主要由两种酶合成，包括胱硫醚β-合酶和胱硫醚γ-裂解酶，这两种酶利用L-半胱氨酸作为底物来产生H₂S。已证明H₂S通过舒张血管平滑肌在体外和体内均表现出强大的血管舒张活性。最近，在阴茎组织中发现了具有平滑肌舒张作用的H₂S。此外，H₂S的其他作用可能在勃起生理中发挥作用。了解H₂S在勃起生理中的作用可能为那些对5型磷酸二酯酶抑制剂反应不佳或无反应的患者提供替代的勃起功能障碍治疗策略。本综述旨在介绍阴茎组织中的H₂S途径以及H₂S在勃起生理中的潜在作用。
