OESTROGEN-ANDROGEN CROSSTALK IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OFERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

• 来源期刊: 亚洲男性学杂志(英文版)
• 学科: 医学
• 年，卷（期）: 2003,（4）
• 页码范围: 307-313
• 页数: 7页
• 分类号: R698.2
• 语种: 中文

摘要

Ageing in man is associated with a decline in testosterone following changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary testicular axis. This may offset the physiologic equilibrium between oestrogen and androgen and at some point when the ratio of free testosterone to oestradiol reaches a critical level, the oestrogenic gonadotropin suppressive effect predominates with decreased release of FSH and LH. Adding to this endocrinal complexity is the continued peripheral conversion to oestradiol through aromatisation. Although the androgen deficiency is not the sole cause for impotence in the elderly, there is a gradual decrease in nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and spontaneous morning erections with ageing. Despite the age related increase in oestrogen levels, the information on the pathophysiological role of the "female hormone" in erectile dysfunction has been scanty. Together with our identification of oestrogen receptors within the penile cavernosum, we have delineated dysfunctional changes on male erection mediated