Galanin has neuroregenerative effects in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Researchers have now evaluated the effects of the compound in nitrergic neurons and the major pelvic ganglion after bilateral cavernous nerve injury. In vitro, galanin had neurotrophic effects and inhibition of endogenous galanin impaired neurite outgrowth in nitrergic neurons. In corpus cavernosum muscle strips, galanin did not act as a direct vasodilator. Rats that received a galanin receptor 2 agonist after nerve injury had partial recovery of erectile function.
References
Weyne, E. et al. Galanin administration partially restores erectile function after cavernous nerve injury and mediates endogenous nitrergic nerve outgrowth in vitro. J. Sex. Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.02.013 (2018)
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Thoma, C. Neurotrophins to recover erectile function. Nat Rev Urol 15, 263 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2018.45
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2018.45
