Vitamin D deficiency induces erectile dysfunction: role of superoxide

Olivencia, M. A.; Climent, B.; Barreira, B.; Morales-Cano, D.; Sanchez, A.; Fernandez, A.; Garcia-Gomez, B.; Romero-Otero, J.; Rodriguez, C.; Moreno, L.; Prieto, D.; Larriba, M. J.; Cogolludo, A.; Angulo, J.; Perez-Vizcaino, F.

doi:10.1101/2023.08.09.552595

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.08.09.552595

Vitamin D deficiency induces erectile dysfunction: role of superoxide

Olivencia, M. A.·Climent, B.·Barreira, B.·Morales-Cano, D.·Sanchez, A.·Fernandez, A.·Garcia-Gomez, B.·Romero-Otero, J.·Rodriguez, C.·Moreno, L.·Prieto, D.·Larriba, M. J.·Cogolludo, A.·Angulo, J.·Perez-Vizcaino, F.

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction (ED) but its causal relationship and the mechanism involved are unclear. Here we demonstrate that isolated corpora cavernosa (CC) from human donors with low vitamin D levels show reduced NO-dependent erectile function. This ED is also reproduced in vitamin D deficient rats and vitamin D receptor knockout mice in vivo and ex vivo and is associated with penile fibrosis. Vitamin D deficiency also blunts the response of CC to the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor sildenafil. CC from deficient rats show increased superoxide and their impaired erectile function is restored by superoxide scavengers. These results suggest that vitamin D deficiency induces ED via increased superoxide production.

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Olivencia, M. A., Climent, B., Barreira, B., Morales-Cano, D., Sanchez, A., Fernandez, A., Garcia-Gomez, B., Romero-Otero, J., Rodriguez, C., Moreno, L., Prieto, D., Larriba, M. J., Cogolludo, A., Angulo, J., Perez-Vizcaino, F.. 2023-08-14. Vitamin D deficiency induces erectile dysfunction: role of superoxide. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.09.552595

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