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Feline penile erection induced by topical glans penis application of combination alprostadil and SEPA (Topiglan)

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 16, pages 73–77 (2004)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 07 June 2004

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topically applied prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)+5% SEPA (soft enhancement of percutaneous absorption) on the glans penis in a feline erection model. Erectile response after glans penis administration of PGE1+5% SEPA cream (Topiglan, MacroChem Co., Lexington, MA, USA) was compared to the erectile response after intracavernosal administration of the triple-drug combination (1.65 mg papaverine, 25 μg phentolamine, and 0.5 μg PGE1). The placebo cream and increasing concentrations (0.25%, 2.5 mg/ml; 0.5%, 5 mg/ml; and 1%, 10 mg/ml) of PGE1+5% SEPA were applied in a total volume of 0.1 ml via a plastic needle-less syringe. The control triple-drug combination was administrated intracavernosally via a 30-gauge needle at the completion of each experiment to serve as a control reference. With each application of placebo, PGE1+SEPA, and the triple-drug combination, changes in intracavernosal pressure and systemic blood pressure were continuously monitored. Topical application of PGE1+SEPA induced increases in intracavernosal pressure in a dose-dependent manner, with minimal effects on systemic blood pressure. The increases obtained with 1% PGE1 Topiglan cream were similar to the intracavernosal pressure values elicited by the standard intracavernosal triple-drug combination. These data demonstrate that topical glans penis application of PGE1+SEPA can induce an erectile response in cats with minimal systemic adverse effects. Oral pharmacological agents are the first-line treatment for male ED. Studies investigating the effectiveness of noninvasive modalities such as topical therapy should continue, because these agents have the potential to avoid the systemic effects commonly seen with oral therapies. Additionally, topical therapy may also benefit patients who are unresponsive to oral agents or have explicit contraindications. Topical PGE1 application to the glans penis may become an important treatment option in selected patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an unrestricted educational grant by MacroChem Corporation, Lexington, MA.

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  1. Department of Urology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    M F Usta, J Sanabriav, T J Bivalacqua & W J G Hellstrom

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  1. M F Usta
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  2. J Sanabriav
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  4. W J G Hellstrom
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Correspondence to W J G Hellstrom.

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Usta, M., Sanabriav, J., Bivalacqua, T. et al. Feline penile erection induced by topical glans penis application of combination alprostadil and SEPA (Topiglan). Int J Impot Res 16, 73–77 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901145

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