Microstructural changes of the corpus cavernosum in hypoxia-induced erectile dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Hypoxia is an independent risk factor of erectile dysfunction (ED), and the mechanisms of hypoxia causing ED are varied and complicated. Traditional studies related are concentrated on the changes of the corpus cavernosal endothelium and hormone levels in the body but have failed to achieve notable breakthroughs. Recent researches have demonstrated that such alterations in the corpus cavernosal microstructure as decreased corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of the contractile phenotype and fibrillation of the corpus cavernosum may be two important factors of hypoxia-induced ED. This review gives a brief introduction of the management of hypoxia-induced ED with the strategies of intervening in the corpus cavernosal microstructural changes, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and induction of cell autophagy.