Testosterone Replacement Enhances Internal Pudendal Artery Relaxation to Reverse Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Authors: Odom Michael R , Powers Shelby A , Pak Elena S , Hannan Johanna L 
Published: June 2021

Introduction/Objectives

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is frequently used to manage prostate cancer; however, erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease are common side effects. After cessation of ADT, testosterone (T) levels may take years to recover leaving men prone to cardiovascular disease and long‐term ED. The internal pudendal arteries (IPA) supply blood to the penis and vascular injury to these vessels can lead to ED. This study will determine if castration impairs vascular function in systemic (aorta and mesenteric arteries) and penile vasculature (IPA), and if T can restore erectile and vascular physiology. We hypothesize the IPA will develop impaired relaxation prior to systemic arteries following castration, and T therapy will recover both vascular and erectile function.

Methods

Male Sprague Dawley rats (12 wks) were divided into 3 groups (n=8/grp): control (CON), CAST (6 wks castration), and CAST+T (6 wks castration+T (3mg/kg) in last 2 wks). Erections were assessed via cavernous nerve stimulation and measurement of intracavernosal to mean arterial pressures (ICP/MAP). Aortas, mesenteric arteries, and IPA were excised, cut (2 mm) and mounted into tissue baths. Contractility to high concentration potassium solution (KCl), electrical field stimulation (EFS), and phenylephrine (PE) were measured. Endothelial dependent acetylcholine (ACh) relaxation and endothelial independent relaxation to DEA NONOate were assessed. Non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic (NANC) relaxation was evaluated by EFS in the presence of guanethidine and atropine. Serum testosterone levels were measured via ELISA. Androgen receptor protein expression was measured in IPA.

Results

CAST markedly impaired erectile function (ICP/MAP; CON: 0.83±0.03, CAST: 0.31±0.02; p<0.05) and decreased IPA ACh relaxation (CON: 50.4±3.5%, CAST: 31.2±2.3%; p<0.05). DEA NONOate relaxation was unchanged with CAST. CAST diminished IPA NANC relaxation (CON: 40.8±5.1%, CAST: 22.1±3.9%; p<0.05). However, CAST did not impact IPA contraction. Interestingly, CAST did not change vascular contraction or relaxation in aortas or mesenteric arteries. IPA androgen receptor expression decreased after CAST (CON: 1±0.17, CAST: 0.39±0.03; p<0.05). T supplementation restored serum T (T (ng/ml); CON: 4.2±0.8, CAST: 0.1±0.02, CAST+T: 32.9±3.2: p<0.05), erectile function (ICP/MAP; CAST+T 0.74±0.01 p<0.05) and improved ACh relaxation in IPA to values greater than CON (CAST+T: 63.9±2.9%; p<0.05). Similarly, CAST+T enhanced IPA NANC relaxation to levels greater than CON (CAST+T: 69.2±1.4%; p<0.05). T supplementation did not impact IPA contractions and had no effect on aortic or mesenteric vasoreactivity.

Conclusions

Castration induces severe IPA vascular damage, yet systemic vasculature is unaffected. T therapy dramatically enhances IPA endothelial dependent and NANC‐mediated relaxation. Though T therapy safety in cancer survivors remains controversial, a growing body of literature is finding no correlation between T therapy and cancer progression. In certain populations of prostate cancer survivors, T replacement is warranted.

Support or Funding Information

BSOM start‐up grant, SMSNA, AUA

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.