Persistent Erectile Dysfunction after Discontinuation of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Therapy in Rats Depending on the Duration of Treatment
The World Journal of Men's Health
;
: 240-248, 2019.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-742353
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The current study is aimed to assess whether a longer duration of 5α-reductase inhibitor (5α-RI) exposure was associated with higher rate of permanent erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=76) were assigned to five groups (i) normal control group; (ii) dutasteride (0.5 mg/rat/d) for 4-weeks group; (iii) dutasteride for 4-weeks plus 2-weeks of resting group; (iv) dutasteride for 8-weeks group; and (v) dutasteride for 8-weeks plus 2-weeks of resting group. In vivo erectile responses to electrical stimulation, and changes of fibrotic factors and smooth muscle/collagen contents in the corpus cavernosum were evaluated in each group.RESULTS:
Dutasteride administration for 4 and 8 weeks significantly decreased erectile parameters compared with the control group. Reduced erectile responses were recovered during 2 weeks of drug-free time in the 4-week treatment group, but were not in the 8-week group. Protein levels of fibrosis-related factors transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2, and p-Smad/Smad (Smad 2/3) in the corpus cavernosum showed no significant change after 4 weeks of dutasteride oral administration, but were enhanced after 8 weeks. Dutasteride markedly decreased smooth muscle content and increased collagen after 4 and 8 weeks of use, but no nuclear size changes; however, neither group showed significant improvement in the smooth muscle to collagen ratio after the rest period.CONCLUSIONS:
Our study showed that recovery from ED depended on the duration of medication, and administration of dutasteride for more than 8-weeks in rats could result in irreversible ED even after discontinuation of medication.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Oxidoreductases
/
Transforming Growth Factors
/
Administration, Oral
/
Collagen
/
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
/
Finasteride
/
Models, Animal
/
Electric Stimulation
/
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors
/
Dutasteride
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
The World Journal of Men's Health
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
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