AI Article Synopsis
- - Hypoandrogenism is linked to erectile dysfunction (ED) and affects the function of TRPV1-4 channels that help regulate vascular smooth muscle, but the exact relationship is not well understood.
- - In a study involving castrated rats, it was found that low androgen levels led to decreased TRPV4 expression and reduced levels of important compounds (like nitric oxide) necessary for erectile function.
- - Interventions like gene transfection to boost TRPV4 expression showed promise in improving erectile function, indicating a potential therapeutic target for treating ED related to hypoandrogenism.
Article Abstract
Background: Hypoandrogenism is a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and relaxation are regulated by TRPV1-4 channels. However, the influence of hypoandrogenism on TRPV1-4 and its relationship with erectile function remain unclear.
Aim: To reveal whether hypoandrogenism affects erectile function by influencing TRPV1-4 expression in the corpus cavernosum of rats.
Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 36) aged 8 weeks were assigned to 6 groups at random (n = 6): sham operation, castrated, castrated + testosterone replacement, sham operation + transfection, castrated + transfection, and castrated + empty transfection. Four weeks after castration, 20 μL of lentiviral vector (1 × 108 TU/mL) carrying the TRPV4 gene was injected into the penile cavernous tissue of the transfection groups. One week after transfection, the maximum intracavernous pressure (ICPmax)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the content of TRPV1-4, phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS)/eNOS, and nitric oxide (NO) in penile cavernous tissue of each group were measured.
Outcomes: Under low androgen conditions, TRPV4 expression in endothelial cells in the rat penile cavernosum was sharply reduced, resulting in a decrease in p-eNOS/eNOS and NO content, which could inhibit erectile function.
Results: In rat penile cavernous tissue, TRPV1-4 was expressed in the cell membranes of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The ICPmax/MAP and the content of TRPV4, p-eNOS/eNOS, and NO end product nitrite level in rat penile cavernous tissue was markedly reduced in the castrated group as compared with the sham group (P < .05). The ICPmax/MAP and the content of TRPV4, p-eNOS/eNOS, and NO end product nitrite level in rat penile cavernous tissue were markedly improved in the castrated + transfection group vs the castrated group (P < .01).
Clinical Implications: Upregulation of TRPV4 expression in penile cavernosum tissue might be a viable therapeutic for ED caused by hypoandrogenism.
Strengths And Limitations: The specific mechanism of TRPV4 in ED needs to be further verified by androgen receptor or TRPV4 gene knockout experiments.
Conclusion: Hypoandrogenism may cause ED by reducing the expression of TRPV4 in rat penile cavernous tissue. Upregulation of TRPV4 expression in penile cavernous tissue can increase the ratio of p-eNOS/eNOS and NO levels and ameliorate the erectile function of castrated rats.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdad093 | DOI Listing |
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