New Research on Sexual Function

Young researchers presented innovative, early-stage research at the 16th Annual Summer Research Conference, a collaborative project of the AUA Foundation and the Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR), on August 7-9, 2008. The AUA Foundation hosted the forum for young investigators to showcase and discuss the most cutting-edge research in sexual medicine. These investigators represent the future of sexual medicine research and their contributions to the field will likely change how sexual dysfunction will be diagnosed and treated in the future.

The following notable findings were presented at the conference:

• Metabolic syndrome can impact erectile function. Researchers tested the theory that statins might improve sexual function in men with metabolic syndrome. Researchers injected statins three times a day into 16-20 week old rats for five days.

The statins alleviated vascular constriction associated with metabolic syndrome and improved erectile function.
Reversal of Voltage Dependent Erectile Responses in the Obese Zucker Rat by Statins was Mediated by Alteration in Rho/ Rho kinase Signaling
Christopher Wingard, PhD

• Convention dictates depriving hypogonadal men of testosterone after a radical prostatectomy to avoid the possibility of feeding any remaining cancerous cells. However, researchers argue that androgen therapy may actually restore sexual function faster post-prostatectomy than androgen deprivation with (PDE ) 5 inhibitors. New studies are underway to test this theory.
Androgens and Sexual Function.
Mohit Khera, MD, MBA

• While most studies group diabetic subjects into one cohort, Chitaley’s study separated mice into type I and type II diabetes categories. Separating diabetic mice into separate cohorts showed that unique dysfunctions are at the root of erectile dysfunction in type I vs. type II diabetic mice. Future treatment of diabetes-related erectile dysfunction may differ depending on which type of diabetes is present.

Type I and Type II Diabetic - Erectile Dysfunction: Same Diagnosis (ICD - 9), Different Disease?
Kanchan Chitaley, PhD

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