Abstract
Erectile function is a complex neurovascular process that depends on the health of the central and peripheral nervous systems and the vasculature. Thus, signaling from the central nervous system (brain) to the peripheral nervous system (penis) is critical and is modulated by a set of complex interactions that depend on cerebral and vascular circulation. The cerebral and peripheral vasculatures are target tissues for sex steroid hormones. Gonadal, adrenal and neurosteroids regulate the function and physiology of the endothelium and modulate vascular and cerebral circulation by genomic and non-genomic dependent mechanisms. Recent advances in cell and molecular biology have defined a critical role of endothelium in vascular function. A host of biochemical and clinical markers of endothelium function and dysfunction have been identified to assess vascular pathology. Emerging evidence suggests that sex steroid hormones play an important role in maintaining endothelial health and sex steroid deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular disease and erectile dysfunction. Such information has important clinical implications in patient management with sex steroid hormone insufficiency, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, vascular disease and erectile dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the role of sex steroid hormones in modulation of the biochemical and clinical markers associated with endothelial dysfunction. Specifically the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, assymetric dimethylarginine, reactive oxygen species, endothelin-1, inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, markers of cell adhesion, dysregulation of fibrinolytic factors and the inability to regenerate from endothelial progenitor cells concomitant with increased endothelial apoptosis, increased cellular permeability and increased vascular tone.
Keywords: Sex steroids, neurosteroids, endothelium dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, vascular tone, vascular disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: The Brain, the Penis and Steroid Hormones: Clinical Correlates with Endothelial Dysfunction
Volume: 14 Issue: 35
Author(s): Abdulmaged M. Traish, Hilal Abu-Zahra and Andre T. Guay
Affiliation:
Keywords: Sex steroids, neurosteroids, endothelium dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, vascular tone, vascular disease
Abstract: Erectile function is a complex neurovascular process that depends on the health of the central and peripheral nervous systems and the vasculature. Thus, signaling from the central nervous system (brain) to the peripheral nervous system (penis) is critical and is modulated by a set of complex interactions that depend on cerebral and vascular circulation. The cerebral and peripheral vasculatures are target tissues for sex steroid hormones. Gonadal, adrenal and neurosteroids regulate the function and physiology of the endothelium and modulate vascular and cerebral circulation by genomic and non-genomic dependent mechanisms. Recent advances in cell and molecular biology have defined a critical role of endothelium in vascular function. A host of biochemical and clinical markers of endothelium function and dysfunction have been identified to assess vascular pathology. Emerging evidence suggests that sex steroid hormones play an important role in maintaining endothelial health and sex steroid deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular disease and erectile dysfunction. Such information has important clinical implications in patient management with sex steroid hormone insufficiency, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, vascular disease and erectile dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the role of sex steroid hormones in modulation of the biochemical and clinical markers associated with endothelial dysfunction. Specifically the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, assymetric dimethylarginine, reactive oxygen species, endothelin-1, inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, markers of cell adhesion, dysregulation of fibrinolytic factors and the inability to regenerate from endothelial progenitor cells concomitant with increased endothelial apoptosis, increased cellular permeability and increased vascular tone.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Traish M. Abdulmaged, Abu-Zahra Hilal and Guay T. Andre, The Brain, the Penis and Steroid Hormones: Clinical Correlates with Endothelial Dysfunction, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (35) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208786898699
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208786898699 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Adrenal Hyperandrogenism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Current Pharmaceutical Design Ivabradine for Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease: From Last Chance Resort to Mainstem of a Reasoned Therapy
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Diabetic Nephropathy: Focus on Current and Future Therapeutic Strategies
Current Drug Metabolism New Challenges for ACE-Inhibitors in Vascular Diseases
Drug Design Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Dietary Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Metabolic Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Mechanisms of Fetal and Neonatal Renal Impairment by Pharmacologic Inhibition of Angiotensin
Current Medicinal Chemistry Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and Probiotics: Mechanism of Action: A Review
Current Diabetes Reviews Homocysteine and Heart Failure: An Overview
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Pulmonary Complications After Congenital Heart Surgery
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Hydrogen Sulfide and Endothelial Dysfunction: Relationship with Nitric Oxide
Current Medicinal Chemistry Ezetimibe and Vascular Endothelial Function
Current Vascular Pharmacology Surgical Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Altered Hyaluronan Biosynthesis and Cancer Progression: an Immunological Perspective
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Substance P Prevents Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Metastatic Breast Carcinoma
Protein & Peptide Letters Efficacy and Cardiovascular Safety of Insulins
Current Drug Safety Smoking and Endothelial Progenitor Cells: A Revision of Literature
Current Pharmaceutical Design Genistein as a Potential Anticancer Agent Against Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacology Disconnection of Herbal Medicines and its Potential Solutions with Cellular Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Strategy
Current Drug Metabolism Relevance of Sphingolipids in the Pleiotropic Protective Effects of High-Density Lipoproteins
Current Pharmaceutical Design Breath Analysis and the Measurement of Total Body Water Using Isotope Dilution – Applications in the Dialysis Clinic
Current Analytical Chemistry