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Comment: Hyperbaric oxygen can induce angiogenesis and recover erectile function

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 357–358 (2018)Cite this article

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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the application of oxygen under pressure to increase tissue oxygen levels [1]. Its benefits have been used in a wide variety of medical fields including tissue healing after Fournier gangrene, nerve injury, radiation and interstitial cystitis [1]. The mechanisms of actions remain under investigation, however, early data suggests that it promotes angiogenesis and stimulates transduction cascades which result in the release of prostaglandins, cytokines and nitric oxide [1,2,3,4,5].

The role of HBOT in the treatment of andrological conditions remains speculative and promising but unproven. There is a hypothesis that HBOT may stimulate Leydig cell function by hyper oxygenation, thereby stimulating testosterone synthesis and reducing hypogonadism [6,7,8]. The mechanism of action has been postulated to be due to the stimulation of local growth factors [7, 8].

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Andrology, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    O. Kalejaiye

  2. Department of Andrology, University College London, London, UK

    O. G. Ralph & D. J. Ralph

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  1. O. Kalejaiye
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  2. O. G. Ralph
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  3. D. J. Ralph
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Correspondence to O. Kalejaiye.

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Kalejaiye, O., Ralph, O.G. & Ralph, D.J. Comment: Hyperbaric oxygen can induce angiogenesis and recover erectile function. Int J Impot Res 30, 357–358 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0072-0

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