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. 2018 Aug 31;45(2):91-96.
doi: 10.5152/tud.2018.98048. Print 2019 Mar.

The effect of atorvastatin on penile intracavernosal pressure and cavernosal morphology in normocholesterolemic rats

Mustafa Suat Bolat  1 , Mustafa Bakırtaş  2 , Fatih Fırat  3 , Ekrem Akdeniz  4 , Önder Çınar  5 , Fikret Erdemir  6
Affiliations

The effect of atorvastatin on penile intracavernosal pressure and cavernosal morphology in normocholesterolemic rats

Mustafa Suat Bolat et al. Turk J Urol. .

Abstract

Objective: A debate is open on the effects of lipid-lowering drugs on sexual function. We aimed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin use on penile intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and cavernosal morphology.

Material and methods: Fourteen mature male Sprague-Dawley-rats were randomly assigned to either the control group (which received standard food and water ad libitum) or the atorvastatin group (which received standard food, water, and statin) for twelwe weeks. At the end of the study, ICPs were measured with cavernosometry. Penectomy specimens were histologically examined.

Results: The following mean values were obtained for the control and atorvastatin groups, respectively: pre-study body weights (350±16.9 g and 331.4±24.9 g); post-study body weights (356±18 g and 368±22.5 g (p>0.05); ICPs at 5 V (5.96±5.16 mmHg and 2.11±1.22 mmHg (p=0.07)); ICPs at 10 V (18.28±14.1 mmHg and 5.56±5.58 mmHg) (p=0.09); testosterone (1.23±0.78 and 0.78±0.58 mmol/dL) (p=0.39); blood glucose (151±22 mg/dL and 168.6±16.2 mg/dL) (p=0.12); triglyceride (93.4±19.8 mg/dL and 52.1±18.6 mg/dL) (p=0.01); total cholesterol (50.2±7.2 mg/dL and 47.7±6.6 mg/dL) (p=0.51); and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (10.0±4.4 mg/dL and 3.5±2.1 mg/dL) (p=0.01). The mean collagen thickness was similar (p=0.09); but the mean elastin thickness increased in the atorvastatin group (p=0.01).

Conclusion: The present study showed that the use of atorvastatin reduced the intracavernosal pressure in 10 V stimulation, and minimally decreased testosterone levels in rats, within a short period of time. When statin treatment is considered for its protective properties on cardiovascular system or for its lipid-lowering effect. It should be kept in mind that atorvastatin may also adversely contribute to erectile dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Electrical stimulation of the penis to achieve artificial erection (Intracavernosal transducer is introduced)
Figure 2
Figure 2
a–c. (a) Penile corpora cavernosa in the atorvastatin group. 100X magnification with hematoxylin&eosine. (b) Appearance of collagen fibers of the penile corpora cavernosa in the statin group (yellow arrow). X100 magnification with Masson’s trichrome stain. (c) Appearance of elastic fibers of the penile corpora cavernosa in the statin group (black fibers) (yellow arrow). X100 magnification with Verhoeff’s elastic tissue stain
Figure 3
Figure 3
a–c. (a) Penile corpora cavernosa in the control group. 100 X magnification with hematoxylin&eosine. (b) Appearance of collagen fibers of the penile corpora cavernosa in the statin group (yellow arrow). X100 magnification with Masson’s trichrome stain. (c) Appearance of elastic fibers of the penile corpora cavernosa in the statin group (black fibers) (yellow arrow). X100 magnification with Verhoeff’s elastic tissue stain
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