Pharmacologic treatment of erectile dysfunction

Penile erection occurs in response to cavernous smooth muscle relaxation, increased blood flow to the penis, and restriction of venous outflow. These events are regulated by a spinal reflex relying on visual, imaginative, and olfactory stimuli generated within the central nervous system (CNS) and on tactile stimuli to the penis. Drugs can have a facilitatory or inhibitory effect either on the nerves regulating this reflex or on the cavernous smooth muscle. A balance between contractile and relaxant factors governs flaccidity/rigidity within the penis. Drugs that raise cytosolic calcium either prevent or abort erection. Conversely, drugs that lower cytosolic calcium relax smooth muscle and can initiate penile erection. Efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction (ED) with phosphodiesterase inhibitors, especially type 5; alpha-adrenergic-receptor antagonists; and dopamine agonists exploit these mechanisms within the penis or CNS. Recent advances in our understanding of the pharmacology of penile erection are being translated into effective therapies for ED.