TY - JOUR
T1 - Intraurethrally infused capsaicin induces penile erection in humans
AU - Lazzeri, Massimo
AU - Barbanti, Gabriele
AU - Beneforti, Patrizia
AU - Turini, Damiano
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - Capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents widely innervate the genitourinary tract and play an important role in the integration of various mechanisms which activate reflexes leading to penile erection. We investigated the effect of intraurethral capsaicin infusion in psychogenically impotent men. The 20 patients were prospectively randomized to four groups, each of five men. Group A received intraurethral infusion of saline solution, group B intraurethral capsaicin (10-5M), group C intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride (8 mg) plus intraurethral saline infusion, and group D intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride (8 mg) plus intraurethral capsaicin (10-5M). The penile response was recorded real-time. Intraurethral capsaicin induced penile erection, as did the papaverine injection, while saline infusion was without effect. The erectile response to intraurethral infusion of capsaicin is suggested to involve activation of a urethra-corpora cavernosa reflex arc. Further studies are necessary to clarify if this arc is integrated at central nervous system level or is locally triggered, and if it may have pathophysiologic implications.
AB - Capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents widely innervate the genitourinary tract and play an important role in the integration of various mechanisms which activate reflexes leading to penile erection. We investigated the effect of intraurethral capsaicin infusion in psychogenically impotent men. The 20 patients were prospectively randomized to four groups, each of five men. Group A received intraurethral infusion of saline solution, group B intraurethral capsaicin (10-5M), group C intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride (8 mg) plus intraurethral saline infusion, and group D intracavernosal papaverine hydrochloride (8 mg) plus intraurethral capsaicin (10-5M). The penile response was recorded real-time. Intraurethral capsaicin induced penile erection, as did the papaverine injection, while saline infusion was without effect. The erectile response to intraurethral infusion of capsaicin is suggested to involve activation of a urethra-corpora cavernosa reflex arc. Further studies are necessary to clarify if this arc is integrated at central nervous system level or is locally triggered, and if it may have pathophysiologic implications.
KW - Capsaicin
KW - Penile erection
KW - Sensory innervation
KW - Urethra
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U2 - 10.3109/00365599409180522
DO - 10.3109/00365599409180522
M3 - Article
C2 - 7886417
AN - SCOPUS:0028567831
VL - 28
SP - 409
EP - 412
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology
SN - 0036-5599
IS - 4
ER -