title: Comparison of the effect of sildenafil and apomorphine SL on nocturnal erections in healthy volunteers: a placebo-controlled study.
abstract: To compare the effects of sildenafil and sublingual (sl) apomorphine on nocturnal erections.
  
  
  
  In a prospective, single-blinded, placebo-controlled at-home study we compared the effect of apomorphine sl and sildenafil on sleep-related erectile activity in 30 healthy potent volunteers (mean age, 26.4 years; range, 23-35 years; Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function > or =26), not reporting any subjective sleep abnormality during 4 consecutive nights with rigidity monitoring (NPTR) with the RigiScantrade mark device. After the first night of adaptation, they were randomized to receive placebo or apomorphine sl 2mg or sildenafil 50mg taken at bedtime during the following 3 consecutive nights.
  
  
  
  Sildenafil increased the mean+/-SE number of erections, overall length of erectile events, and the time of erections with rigidity >60% at both tip and base, as compared to placebo. The same parameters were reduced after administration of apomorphine sl. Similar findings were observed with regards to Rigidity Activity Units and Tumescence Activity Units.
  
  
  
  Our results confirm that sildenafil taken at bedtime might increase nocturnal erectile activity also in young potent men as compared to placebo. Apomorphine sl taken at bedtime seems to have the opposite effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Scientific Institute H. San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. salonia.andrea@hsr.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salonia
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Juza
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dehò
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naspro
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Del Carro
authors.forename: Kostantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rokkas
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scattoni
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigatti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montorsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D001058:Apomorphine