Vaginal Lubrication after Cervicovaginal Stimulation Is Facilitated by Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibition in Ovariectomized Mice. (27th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gamé, Xavier; Roumiguié, Mathieu; Bouali, Ourdia; Allard, Julien; Gourdy, Pierre; Mazerolles, Catherine; Rischmann, Pascal; Arnal, Jean‐François; Malavaud, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Journal of sexual medicine. Volume 10:Number 6(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1452
• Page End: 1460
• Publication Date: 2013-03-27
• Subjects: Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sex -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.69005
• DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-6095

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and estrogen receptors are expressed in the vagina.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>We aimed to assess the impact of sildenafil on vaginal lubrication according to the hormonal status and to determine the role of the neuronal isoform of NOS (nNOS).</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Four‐week‐old C57/BL6 female mice were sham operated or ovariectomized. At 10 weeks of age, they were injected intraperitoneally by any combination of sildenafil, 7‐nitroindazole (7‐NI)—a potent selective nNOS inhibitor—or the corresponding vehicles. Vaginal lubrication was induced in a physiological manner by cervical vaginal probing and quantified depending on the hormonal and pharmacological conditions. The animals were then sacrificed for vaginal histomorphometry.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Main Outcome Measures</title> <p>The main outcome measure is the quantification of vaginal transudate after cervicovaginal stimulation and vaginal histomorphometry.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Sildenafil increased cervicovaginal probing‐induced vaginal lubrication in ovariectomized and sham‐operated animals. Ovariectomized mice exhibited decreased vaginal lubrication as compared with sham‐operated mice. When taking into account the presence of severe vaginal atrophy, a threefold increase in transudate per gram of vagina wet weight was revealed in ovariectomized animals. Castration markedly reduced the thickness of the vaginal wall. nNOS inhibition by 7‐NI had no impact on vaginal lubrication.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsm12127-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Irrespective of the hormonal status, sildenafil increased vaginal lubrication. The vaginal effect of sildenafil was independent of the nNOS pathway and more pronounced in ovariectomized animals.</p> </sec> </abstract>