Maerker Dr. Viktoria, Ueckert Prof. Stefan, Becker Prof. Armin, Rehardjo Harrina, Bannowsky Priv-Doz. Andreas, Kuczyk Prof. Markus

(215) IS THERE A ROLE OF HISTAMINE IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ERECTILE DYSFUNKTION?

  • Urology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
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Abstract Objectives Histamine is a bioactive amine related to the control of vascular tissue and the vasorelaxation mediated by nitric oxide and cyclic GMP. The role and function of histamine in the control of penile erectile tissue (corpus cavernosum penis) is only poorly understood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the course of histamine plasma levels through different stages of sexual arousal in the systemic and cavernous blood of healthy males and in patients with erectile dysfunction. Methods 34 healthy adult males (mean age 26) and 46 patients with ED (mean age 52) were exposed to erotic stimuli in order to elicit sexual arousal. Blood was simultaneously aspirated from the corpus cavernosum and a cubital vein during the penile conditions flaccidity, tumescence, rigidity and detumescence. Plasma levels of histamine were determined by means of a radioimmunoassay. Results In the healthy individuals, histamine slightly decreased in the cavernous blood with the beginning of sexual arousal, when the flaccid penis became tumescent (0.95 ± 0.5 to 0.87 ± 0.36), decreased further during rigidity (0.8 ± 0.3) and remained unaltered in the phase of detumescence. In the systemic circulation, no alterations in plasma histamine were observed with the initiation or termination of penile erection. In the ED patients, a moderate rise in cavernous histamine was registered from flaccidity/tumescence to detumescence (1.2 ± 0.3 to 1.33 ± 0.52). In the patients, at all penile conditions, plasma histamine was significantly higher in the cavernous blood than in the systemic circulation. Conclusions Based on the results, it seems unlikely that histamine has excitatory function in the control of penile erection. It remains to be established whether in the patients with ED the amine, potentially acting as a mediator of a neuroendocrine feedback system, may mediate local biological events modulating sexual function in terms of counteracting erectile capability. Conflicts of Interest no conflict of interest.

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