title: Hyperuricemia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Erectile Dysfunction.
abstract: Hyperuricemia may be related to the development of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between hyperuricemia and erectile dysfunction (ED) is not currently clear.
  
  
  
  The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of hyperuricemia on erectile function and possible mechanisms.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group A (control): Rats received normal saline and served as controls. Group B (hyperuricemia): rats were given oxonic acid 250 mg/kg bw/day through gastric gavage for 4 weeks. Group C (febuxostat): normal rats were treated with 5 mg/kg febuxostat through gastric gavage for 4 weeks. Group D (hyperuricemia + Febuxostat): normal rats were treated with 250 mg/kg bw/day oxonic acid and 5 mg/kg bw/day febuxostat with 1 hour interval for 4 weeks.
  
  
  
  The level of serum uric acid, the maximum intracavernosal pressure (ICPmax), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phospho-eNOS, neuronal NOS, Rho-associated protein kinaise (ROCK)1 and ROCK2 and the level of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cavernous tissue were determined.
  
  
  
  The level of serum uric acid and ROS in hyperuricemic rats was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups (P < .05). After electrostimulation with 3 and 5 voltage, the ratio of ICPmax/MAP in hyperuricemic rats was significantly less than that in other 3 groups (P < .05), respectively. eNOS, p-eNOS, and nNOS expression in hyperuricemic rats were significantly decreased compared to the other 3 groups (P < .05), respectively.
  
  
  
  Erectile function is impaired by hyperuricemia. The decrease of eNOS, p-eNOS, and nNOS protein expression and increase of ROS in cavernous tissue may be one of the key mechanisms of ED caused by hyperuricemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China. Electronic address: jiangrui@126.com.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanzheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Haocheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhongcai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Second People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, China.
authors.forename: Tiebing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Erectile Dysfunction; Febuxostat; Hyperuricemia; eNOS