1. Urotensin II: A Novel Target in Human Corpus Cavernosum
Roberta d'Emmanuele Di Villa Bianca, PhD, Giuseppe Cirino, PhD, FBPharmacolS, Emma Mitidieri, PhD, Ciro Coletta, PhD, Gianluca Grassia, PhD, Fiorentina Roviezzo, PhD, Paolo Grieco, PhD, Ettore Novellino, PhD, Ciro Imbimbo, MD, Vincenzo Mirone, MD, Raffaella Sorrentino, PhD 
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 
Volume 7, Issue 5, Pages (May 2010)
DOI: /j x
Copyright © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
Urotensin II receptor (GPR14) is expressed in human and rat corpus cavernosum. (A) Representative western blot for urotensin II receptor (GPR14) in human (HCC) and rat corpus cavernosum. β-actin was used as loading control. (B) Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for urotensin II receptor (GPR14) in human corpus cavernosum and human colon. The data represent the mean±standard error of the mean of three different human and rat specimens.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2010 7, DOI: ( /j x)
Copyright © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
Localization of the urotensin II receptor (GPR14) in human corpus cavernosum. Photomicrographs show cellular localization of the GPR14 protein (red) with immunofluorescence. (A) negative control. Panel B and C: Sections were doubled stained with an endothelial cell marker (von Willebrand factor [vWF]; green) (B), or with a smooth muscle cell marker (α-SMA; green) (A, C). 4i,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (blue) was used to stain the nuclei. The merges showed the GPR14 colocalization (yellow). Results illustrated are from a single experiment and are representative of three different specimens.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2010 7, DOI: ( /j x)
Copyright © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Urotensin II (U-II) effect on human corpus cavernosum (HCC) strips. (A) U-II relaxed HCC strips precontracted with PE (3µM) in presence of endothelium (***P<0.001). (B) N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100µM) abolished U-II-induced relaxation (***P<0.001).
Data expressed as mean±standard error of the mean (N=8) were analyzed by analysis of variance and by Bonferroni as post-test. CTR=control.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2010 7, DOI: ( /j x)
Copyright © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
Effect of urotensin II (U-II) on intracavernous and systemic pressure in anesthetized rats. U-II (0.1, 0.1, 1nmol/rat) caused significant dose-dependent increases in intracavernous pressure (ICP) compared with saline. The data are expressed in (A), as delta in mmHg (***P<0.001; N=5) and in (B), as area under the curve (***P<0.001; N=5). (C) Ach (2.5, 5, 25nmol/rat) caused a dose-dependent increase in intracavernous pressure (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, N=5). (D) U-II did not cause any change in arterial blood pressure.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2010 7, DOI: ( /j x)
Copyright © 2009 International Society for Sexual Medicine Terms and Conditions