The pathophysiological role of prostaglandins in penile erection

Abstract

Penile erection is a complex haemodynamic event and relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle of the penis is fundamental to this process. This is primarily mediated by nitric oxide (NO) produced from non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves and the endothelium surrounding the corporal sinusoids. However, corporal tissue has been shown to produce a number of other vasoactive factors, including prostaglandins (PGs), which appear to not only have diverse physiological effects, but are also able to modulate the effects of other neurotransmitters, including NO.