RESUMEN
This study was set out to assess the possible hazardous effects of lead on the endogenous antioxidant status of erectile tissues. The study included 49 male subjects categorized into two main groups. Group I [n=34] included impotent males, who underwent surgery for penile implants and further subdivided according to the blood lead into two subgroups; subgroup I [n=18] with acceptable lead level who suffered of diabetes mellitus and subgroup II [n=16] with high lead level. Group II [n=15] included potent males who underwent surgery for penile cancer. Blood and cavernous tissue samples were taken from each subject and in which lead concentration was estimated. In addition, nitric oxide [NO] and hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] were detected as representatives of free radicals, malondialdehyde [MDA] as a product of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E as indicators of the endogenous antioxidant status