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Pathophysiology of diabetic erectile dysfunction: potential contribution of vasa nervorum and advanced glycation endproducts

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 25, pages 1–6 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) due to diabetes mellitus remains difficult to treat medically despite advances in pharmacotherapeutic approaches in the field. This unmet need has resulted in a recent re-focus on the pathophysiology, in order to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to ED in diabetes. Diabetes-induced ED is often resistant to PDE5 inhibitor treatment, thus there is a need to discover targets that may lead to novel approaches for a successful treatment. The aim of this brief review is to update the reader in some of the latest development on that front, with a particular focus on the role of impaired neuronal blood flow and the formation of advanced glycation endproducts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) for continuing support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translational Medicine, Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK

    S Cellek

  2. School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

    N E Cameron & M A Cotter

  3. Institute of Urology, University College London, London, UK

    A Muneer

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  1. S Cellek
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Correspondence to S Cellek.

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Cellek, S., Cameron, N., Cotter, M. et al. Pathophysiology of diabetic erectile dysfunction: potential contribution of vasa nervorum and advanced glycation endproducts. Int J Impot Res 25, 1–6 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2012.30

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