NLRP3 activation contributes to endothelin-1-induced erectile dysfunction.

In the present study, we hypothesized that endothelin (ET) receptors (ET and ET ) stimulation, through increased calcium and ROS formation, leads to Nucleotide Oligomerization Domain-Like Receptor Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) activation. Intracavernosal pressure (ICP/MAP) was measured in C57BL/6 (WT) mice. Functional and immunoblotting assays were performed in corpora cavernosa (CC) strips from WT, NLRP3 and caspase mice in the presence of ET-1 (100 nM) and vehicle, MCC950, tiron, BAPTA AM, BQ123, or BQ788.