Effects of ovariectomy and estrogen and androgen treatment on sildenafil-mediated changes in female genital blood flow and vaginal lubrication in the animal model.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol and testosterone treatment on sildenafil- induced changes in genital hemodynamics and vaginal lubrication.


METHODS
Female New Zealand White rabbits were either kept intact or underwent ovariectomy. Two weeks after ovariectomy, animals were treated with vehicle, testosterone, or a combination of estradiol and testosterone for 14 days. Genital hemodynamics and vaginal lubrication were recorded at the end of the treatment period.


RESULTS
Ovariectomy caused a marked decrease in vaginal lubrication but did not significantly alter genital hemodynamics. In contrast to testosterone treatment of ovariectomized animals, estradiol treatment significantly increased genital blood flow and vaginal lubrication above that observed in control animals. Sildenafil administration caused a significant increase in genital hemodynamics irrespective of the hormonal status.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that estradiol but not testosterone modulates genital hemodynamics and that sildenafil enhances genital blood flow irrespective of hormonal status.
Min
Kweonsik
K
Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Mass, USA.
Munarriz
Ricardo
R
Kim
Noel N
NN
Goldstein
Irwin
I
Traish
Abdulmaged
A
D000818:Animals; D002987:Clitoris / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000098:blood supply*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate