Summary:
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem that significantly affects the quality of life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the commonest known benign proliferative disorder. Recently there has been growing evidence to suggest that patients with high BPH symptom scores have an increased incidence of ED. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide that is thought to play an important role as a modulator of erectile physiology and dysfunction. We investigated whether there are any changes in the density and distribution of ET-1 and its receptor subtypes in the corpora cavernosa (CC) of a rabbit model of partial bladder outflow obstruction (BOO). ET-1, endothelin-A- and -B- (ETA and ETB) receptor binding sites were primarily localized to the smooth muscle cells (SMC) of the CC and the endothelium lining the cavernosal space. ETB-receptor binding sites were significantly decreased (p = 0.04) in the 6-week BOO cavernosal tissue. ET-1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of ED associated with BPH. This may be partly a result of enhanced vasoconstrictor actions and SMC proliferation secondary to a reduction in ETB-receptors. Further work is needed to evaluate this possibility.
Departments of *Molecular Pathology & Clinical Biochemistry and †Urology, Royal Free and University College Medical School (University College London), Royal Free Campus & The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, London, U.K.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Masood A. Khan, Research Registrar, Department of Urology, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, U.K. E-mail:ktasmas@aol.com
© 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
