This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Maas, R. Articles by Böger, R. H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maas, R. Articles by Böger, R. H Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Erectile Dysfunction Hazardous Substances DB NITRIC OXIDE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction related to endothelial dysfunction and mediators of vascular function

Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, maas{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de

Edzard Schwedhelm

Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Jennifer Albsmeier

Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Rainer H Böger

Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

The incidence of erectile dysfunction increases with diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, cardiovascular disease and renal failure. All these conditions are associated with endothelial dysfunction. This review addresses the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction with a special focus on new insights into nitric oxide (NO)-mediated pathways, oxidative stress and parallels to endothelial dysfunction. NO appears to be the key mediator promoting endothelium-derived vasodilation and penile erection. The possibility is discussed that elevated plasma concentrations of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous NO synthase inhibitor, may provide an additional pathomechanism for various forms of erectile dysfunction associated with cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Likewise, the role of endothelium-derived factors mediating NO-independent pathways is evaluated.

Key Words: asymmetrical dimethylarginine • endothelial dysfunction • endothelin • erectile dys-function • nitric oxide • nitric oxide synthase • oxidative stress • prostaglandin

Vascular Medicine, Vol. 7, No. 3, 213-225 (2002)
DOI: 10.1191/1358863x02vm429ra


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Aversa, R. Bruzziches, D. Francomano, M. Natali, and A. Lenzi Testosterone and phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors: new strategy for preventing endothelial damage in internal and sexual medicine? Therapeutic Advances in Urology, October 1, 2009; 1(4): 179 - 197. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Reffelmann and R. A. Kloner Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors: are they cardioprotective? Cardiovasc Res, July 15, 2009; 83(2): 204 - 212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Musicki, A. E. Ross, H. C. Champion, A. L. Burnett, and T. J. Bivalacqua Posttranslational Modification of Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Penis J Androl, July 1, 2009; 30(4): 352 - 362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J Bank, A. S Kelly, D. R Kaiser, W. W Crawford, B. Waxman, D. A Schow, and K. L Billups The effects of quinapril and atorvastatin on the responsiveness to sildenafil in men with erectile dysfunction Vascular Medicine, November 1, 2006; 11(4): 251 - 257. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. R. Schwarz, S. Rastogi, V. Kapur, N. Sulemanjee, and J. J. Rodriguez Erectile Dysfunction in Heart Failure Patients J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 19, 2006; 48(6): 1111 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Agarwal, K. C. Nandipati, R. K. Sharma, C. D. Zippe, and R. Raina Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathophysiological Mechanism of Erectile Dysfunction J Androl, May 1, 2006; 27(3): 335 - 347. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A. Elesber, H. Solomon, R. J. Lennon, V. Mathew, A. Prasad, G. Pumper, R. E. Nelson, J. P. McConnell, L. O. Lerman, and A. Lerman Coronary endothelial dysfunction is associated with erectile dysfunction and elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with early atherosclerosis Eur. Heart J., April 1, 2006; 27(7): 824 - 831. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Min, K. A. Williams, T. M. Okwuosa, G. W. Bell, M. S. Panutich, and R. P. Ward Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease by Erectile Dysfunction in Men Referred for Nuclear Stress Testing Arch Intern Med, January 23, 2006; 166(2): 201 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. G. Papatsoris and P. G. Korantzopoulos Hypertension, Antihypertensive Therapy, and Erectile Dysfunction Angiology, January 1, 2006; 57(1): 47 - 52. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Gazzaruso, S. Giordanetti, E. De Amici, G. Bertone, C. Falcone, D. Geroldi, P. Fratino, S. B. Solerte, and A. Garzaniti Relationship Between Erectile Dysfunction and Silent Myocardial Ischemia in Apparently Uncomplicated Type 2 Diabetic Patients Circulation, July 6, 2004; 110(1): 22 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Bivalacqua, M. F. Usta, H. C. Champion, P. J. Kadowitz, and W. J. G. Hellstrom Endothelial Dysfunction in Erectile Dysfunction: Role of the Endothelium in Erectile Physiology and Disease J Androl, November 1, 2003; 24(6_suppl): S17 - S37. [Full Text] [PDF]