Neuronal nitric oxide initiates and maintains penile erection

摘要

Nitric oxide (NO) generated by neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) is an established mediator of penile erection. Though nNOS is closely tied to penile innervation, NO signaling is thought to initiate erection but not participate in the sustained erection required for normal sexual performance. K. Joseph Hurt et al. (pp. 16624-16629) show that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylates nNOS at serine (S)1412 and mediates erectile physiology, including sustained erection.