When enough nitric oxide is present in the inner lining of the blood vessels of the penis, the smooth muscle surrounding the blood vessels are signaled to relax in the presence of sexual stimulation. The result is increased blood flow and an erection. When not enough nitric oxide is present in the blood vessels of the sexual organs, the result can be erectile dysfunction (ED), which affects around 5% of men age 40, and up to 25% of men age 65 or older.
The occasional failure to achieve an erection is not the same thing as ED. Sporadic problems with erection can occur for any number of reasons, such as fatigue, or overconsumption of alcohol, but that’s not defined as ED.
For 15 years, men have been using Viagra (and drugs like it) to combat ED, and new research on nitric oxide micro-beads could lead to a new line of treatment.
The Recent Study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine
In June of this year, an article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported results of a study by scientists at Rice University that involved microspheres of nitric oxide (NO) and their effect on ED in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats using a drug called streptozotocin, and several non-diabetic rats were used as controls. The rats in the treatment group were divided into four subgroups:
- A no-treatment group
- A group treated with sildenafil (Viagra)
- A group treated with nitric oxide microspheres
- A group treated with sildenafil and nitric oxide microspheres
In the groups treated with the microspheres, the fluorescently-tagged spheres were injected into the corpus cavernosum, which is the erectile tissue of the penis. The fluorescent tagging was done to learn whether the microspheres migrated elsewhere in the body (They didn’t.).
Scientists measured intracavernosal pressure and mean arterial pressure in all rats after treatment and found that the microspheres released NO for up to 4 weeks, and the best results in terms of intracavernosal pressure were in the rats treated with either microspheres alone or microspheres plus sildenafil. In fact, erectile response was improved in the rats treated with the nitric oxide-releasing microspheres for three weeks.
Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is more common in men with diabetes than in non-diabetics. Long-term high blood glucose levels damage nerves and blood vessels and make circulation less efficient. High blood pressure and coronary artery disease — also more common in diabetics — are also associated with higher rates of ED. An estimated 35 to 75% of men with diabetes will experience ED to some degree during their lifetime. Furthermore, men with diabetes tend to develop ED 10 to 15 years earlier than non-diabetic men. For these reasons, the studies on diabetic rats are particularly intriguing.
How the Nitric Oxide Beads Work
The NO beads were directly injected into the penises of the research animals, causing nitric oxide to be released and result in expansion of the blood vessels. Normally, men with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol who experience ED produce too little NO. Injection of the microspheres directly addresses these low levels of NO, allowing increased blood flow to erectile tissues.
Will This Therapy Become Widely Available?
While injection of anything into the penis may make a lot of men wince, human trials are scheduled with the microspheres. If human trials are as promising as the trials in animals, this therapy could be available to consumers in five years or so. Furthermore, other researchers believe that the microspheres could be used in other applications where blood flow needs to be stimulated in other parts of the body. Professor Raj Persad from the Bristol Urological Institute in the UK said, “The beneficial effects of the nitric oxide may be seen not only in erections but in protective and beneficial cardiovascular effects. I look forward to this treatment being licensed for use in the UK as it seems both safe and effective on the data presented.”
In the meantime, millions of men worldwide have found Viagra and other drugs of this class to be very effective in treating ED. At eDrugstore.com, we dispense only genuine Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Staxyn through US-licensed pharmacists. eDrugstore.com offers competitive prices, a strong commitment to customer privacy, and speedy shipping using trusted couriers like FedEx.
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