Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Isolation of Adipose Derived Regenerative Cells for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy
Published on: December 28, 2021
Targeting vascular structure for the treatment of sexual dysfunction
Taben M Hale1, Johanna L Hannan, Serge Carrier
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2157, USA. taben.hale@arizona.edu
Introduction:
Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease often coexist and have many common risk factors. In hypertension, the structure of blood vessels is modified such that there is an increase in medial wall thickness relative to lumen size. Certain antihypertensive agents have been found to induce a regression of vascular structure such that a "hypertensive" vessel appears phenotypically more like that from a normotensive.
Aim:
To provide an update on the findings to date on the impact of vascular remodeling on erectile function.
Main Outcome Measures:
Review of peer reviewed literature related to vascular remodeling induced by antihypertensive agents and the potential impact on sexual function.
Methods:
A literature review was performed on clinical and experimental evidence regarding the association between cardiovascular disease and ED, the impact of vascular remodeling on these conditions, the impact of antihypertensive therapy on ED, and the mechanisms of antihypertensive drug-induced remodeling.
Results:
There is increasing evidence that ED may be an early marker for progressing cardiovascular disease. Certain antihypertensive agents have beneficial effects on both vascular structure and erectile function. The major site of resistance in the penile vasculature occurs at the level of the pudendal artery. Although structural remodeling has not yet been investigated in this vessel specifically, antihypertensive drugs have been shown to induce remodeling of the pudendal-penile vasculature and cavernosal arteries. Antihypertensive drug-induced vascular remodeling can be characterized by a decrease in the ratio of wall thickness to lumen diameter, and may result from vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis, rearrangement of cells around a smaller lumen, and/or changes in the extracellular matrix composition depending on the vessel type.
Conclusion:
Determining the mechanisms involved in antihypertensive drug-induced vascular remodeling in the pudendal vasculature may provide novel targets for the treatment of ED.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Treatment 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...
01:23Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators
01:17Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
01:16Vascular Spasm
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
01:23Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...