High Salt Intake Impairs Erectile Function in Salt-Sensitive Rats Through Mineralocorticoid Receptor Pathway Beyond Its Effect on Blood Pressure.

Background: High salt intake is a risk factor for hypertension, which can potentially lead to erectile dysfunction (ED); however, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unclear.

Aim: To investigate whether erectile function is directly impaired by high salt intake and whether selective inhibition of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) could provide protection from ED.

Methods: 6-week-old male Dahl salt-sensitive rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal diet (0.