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Neurophysiology/pharmacology of erection
- Source :
- International Journal of Impotence Research. 13:S8-S17
- Publication Year :
- 2001
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2001.
-
Abstract
- Despite considerable advances, both the central regulation of erection with processing of various stimuli, and the different steps involved in neurotransmission, impulse propagation and intracellular transduction of neural signals in penile smooth muscles, are still incompletely known. Centrally as well as peripherally, many transmitters and transmitter systems are involved. Dopamine, nitric oxide, oxytocin and ACTH/alpha-MSH, seem to have a facilitatory role, whereas serotonin may be either facilitatory or inhibitory, and enkephalins are inhibitory. Peripherally, the balance between contractant (eg noradrenaline, endothelins, angiotensins) and relaxant (eg NO, VIP and related peptides, prostanoids) factors controls the degree of contraction of the smooth muscle of the corpora cavernosa, and determines the functional state of the penis. Neurogenic NO is considered the most important factor for relaxation of penile vessels and corpus cavernosum. The roles of other putative transmitters/mediators and of various intracellular mechanisms, producing relaxation of vascular and corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, have not been established. For example, recent findings have suggested a role of Rho/Rho-kinase in the regulation of cavernosal tone, and that Rho-kinase antagonism could be a new potential principle for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Further research in this area may be rewarding.
- Subjects :
- Central Nervous System
Male
medicine.hormone
medicine.medical_specialty
Urology
Neurotransmission
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
Nitric oxide
Endothelins
chemistry.chemical_compound
Dopamine
Internal medicine
Animals
Humans
Medicine
Neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter Agents
business.industry
Penile Erection
medicine.disease
Erectile dysfunction
Endocrinology
chemistry
Oxytocin
business
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 09559930
- Volume :
- 13
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Impotence Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a1a8e5ab51b54215dd55a5b6ec43c634