Influences of neuroregulatory factors on the development of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction in aging men

Abstract

As men age, there is an increase in the frequency of pathologic diseases affecting the genitourinary tract. Most notable among these changes are the rising prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED). The pathogenesis of these conditions seems to be multifactorial and includes age-related changes in the nervous system and neuroregulatory factors, such as nitric oxide and RhoA/Rho-kinase. Various pharmacologic agents that target these pathways, such as α-blockers and PDE-5is, underscore the contribution of neuroregulatory factors on the development of LUTS/BPH and ED.