title: Gas what: NO is not the only answer to sexual function.
abstract: The ability to get and keep an erection is important to men for several reasons and the inability is known as erectile dysfunction (ED). ED has started to be accepted as an early indicator of systemic endothelial dysfunction and subsequently of cardiovascular diseases. The role of NO in endothelial relaxation and erectile function is well accepted. The discovery of NO as a small signalling gasotransmitter led to the investigation of the role of other endogenously derived gases, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The role of NO and CO in sexual function and dysfunction has been investigated more extensively and, recently, the involvement of H2 S in erectile function has also been confirmed. In this review, we focus on the role of these three sister gasotransmitters in the physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology of sexual function in man, specifically erectile function. We have also reviewed the role of soluble guanylyl cyclase/cGMP pathway as a common target of these gasotransmitters. Several studies have proposed alternative therapies targeting different mechanisms in addition to PDE-5 inhibition for ED treatment, since some patients do not respond to these drugs. This review highlights complementary and possible coordinated roles for these mediators and treatments targeting these gasotransmitters in erectile function/ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yetik-Anacak
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
chemical_list: D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide