NADPH Diaphorase staining of the corpus cavernosum in cholestatic rats: Role of nitrergic and opioid systems

Relaxation of the corpus cavernosum plays an important role in penile erection. Previous studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO) appears to be the most important relaxant involved in the erection process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cholestasis in nNOS and eNOS activity of corpus cavernosum. forty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into seven groups: control, sham operated, 2-, 7-, and 14-day bile duct-ligated animals, 7-day bile duct-ligated chronically treated with L-NAME (3 mg/kg/day, i.p.)