Ageing causes cytoplasmic retention of MaxiK channels in rat corporal smooth muscle cells

K. P. Davies, Y. Stanevsky, T. Moses, J. S. Chang, M. R. Chance, A. Melman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The MaxiK channel plays a critical role in the regulation of corporal smooth muscle tone and thereby erectile function. Given that ageing results in a decline in erectile function, we determined changes in the expression of MaxiK, which might impact erectile function. Quantitative-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that although there is no significant change in transcription of the α- and β-subunits that comprise the MaxiK channel, there are significant changes in the expression of transcripts encoding different splice variants. One transcript, SV1, is 13-fold increased in expression in the ageing rat corpora. SV1 has previously been reported to trap other isoforms of the MaxiK channel in the cytoplasm. Correlating with increased expression of SV1, we observed in older rats there is approximately a 13-fold decrease in MaxiK protein in the corpora cell membrane and a greater proportion is retained in the cytoplasm (approximately threefold). These experiments demonstrate that ageing of the corpora is accompanied by changes in alternative splicing and cellular localization of the MaxiK channel.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)371-377
Number of pages7
JournalInternational journal of impotence research
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2007

Keywords

  • Ageing
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • MaxiK channel
  • Smooth muscle
  • Splicing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Urology

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