Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Treatment of Ejaculatory Duct Obstruction by Seminal Vesiculoscopy Assisted Flow Modification
Published on: December 8, 2023
Activators of soluble guanylate cyclase for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction
J D Brioni1, M Nakane, G C Hsieh
1Neuroscience Research, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064, USA. jorge.brioni@abbott.com
Abstract:
Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is an important enzyme in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells as it is one of the regulators of the synthesis of cGMP. The efficacy of sildenafil (Viagra) in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction indicates the importance of the cGMP system in the erectile response as the increased levels of cGMP induce relaxation of the corpus cavernosum. sGC is physiologically activated by nitric oxide (NO) during sexual stimulation, and its activity can be pharmacologically enhanced by several NO-donors. Agents like YC-1 can also activate sGC after binding to a novel allosteric site in the enzyme, a site different from the NO binding site. YC-1 can relax rabbit cavernosal tissue and it facilitates penile erection in vivo. This review summarizes the enzymology, biochemistry and pharmacology of this novel allosteric site and its relevance for the regulation of penile function. This type of sGC activators represent a new class of compounds with a different pharmacological profile in comparison to the classical NO-donors and they could be beneficial for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Adrenergic Agonists: Direct-Acting Agents
These agents can be classified...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...

