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Sexual dysfunction

Central action of sildenafil on arousal and reward pathways

Nature Reviews Urology volume 10, page 66 (2013)Cite this article

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In addition to its peripheral effect on the corpus cavernosum, phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil also exerts effects on the central nervous system to modulate arousal, according to the findings of a new study.

In inexperienced males, acute and chronic sildenafil treatment increased both dopamine and serotonin turnover rates in the MPOA and in the NAcc. The same was true for acute treatment of experienced rats, but chronic treatment enhanced serotonin turnover only in the MPOA and dopamine turnover only in the NAcc. This discrepancy could be due to a greater stress effect in experienced male rats, as copulation was prevented.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Kyratsas, C. et al. Experimental evidence for sildenafil's action in the central nervous system: dopamine and serotonin changes in the medial preoptic area and nucleus accumbens during sexual arousal. J. Sex. Med. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.03000.x

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  1. Annette Fenner
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Fenner, A. Central action of sildenafil on arousal and reward pathways. Nat Rev Urol 10, 66 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2012.235

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