Effects of ginsenoside on large-conductance kca channels in human corporal smooth muscle cells

ABSTRACT Ginseng was known to be an effective natural product that enhances penile erection. However, the precise biological function and mechanisms of action of ginseng with regard to

erectile function remain unknown. The principal objective of this study was to identify ginsenoside (principal molecular ingredients of ginseng)-induced activation of large-conductance KCa

channel in human corporal smooth muscle cells, and to determine ginseng's mechanism of action on penile erection. Electrophysiological studies using cultured human corporal smooth

muscle cells were conducted. We evaluated the effects of total ginsenosides (TGS) and ginsenoside Rg3 on large-conductance KCa channel by determining whole-cell currents and single-channel

activities. There was an increase in outward current dependent on TGS concentration (at +60 mV, 1 μg ml−1; 168.3±59.3%, _n_=6, _P_<0.05, 10 μg ml−1; 173.2±36.8%, _n_=4, _P_<0.05, 50 μg

 ml−1; 295.3±62.3%, _n_=19, _P_<0.001, 100 μg ml−1; and 462.3±97.1%, _n_=5, _P_<0.001) and Rg3 concentration (at +60 mV, 1 μM (0.78 μg ml−1); 222.8±64.8%, _n_=11, _P_<0.0001, 10 μM;

672.6±137.1%, _n_=10, _P_<0.0001, 50 μM; and 1713.3±234.7%, _n_=15, _P_<0.001) in the solution that was blocked completely by tetraethylammonium (TEA). Channel opening in

cell-attached mode and channel activity in the inside-out membrane patches was also increased significantly by 50 μg of TGS or 10 μM of Rg3. The results of this study suggested that the

activation of large-conductance KCa channels by ginsenoside could be one mechanism of ginsenoside-induced relaxation in corporal smooth muscle. Access through your institution Buy or

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a grant from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health, Welfare & Family Affairs, the Republic of Korea (A080064). AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS *

Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea H H Sung, M R Chae & S W Lee * Department of Physiology and Biophysics,

Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea I So & J-H Jeon * Department of Urology, Medical School, and Institute for Medical Sciences, Chonbuk National

University, and Research Institute and Clinical Trial Center of Medical Device of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea J K Park Authors * H H Sung View author publications You

can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * M R Chae View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * I So View author publications You

can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J-H Jeon View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J K Park View author publications

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to S W Lee. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no conflict of interest. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Sung,

H., Chae, M., So, I. _et al._ Effects of ginsenoside on large-conductance KCa channels in human corporal smooth muscle cells. _Int J Impot Res_ 23, 193–199 (2011).

https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2011.25 Download citation * Received: 28 October 2010 * Revised: 06 April 2011 * Accepted: 30 April 2011 * Published: 23 June 2011 * Issue Date: September 2011 *

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currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative KEYWORDS * corporal smooth muscle * ginsenoside *

large-conductance KCa channel * penile erection