Erectile Dysfunction in Wistar Audiogenic Rats Is Associated With Increased Cavernosal Contraction and Decreased Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Protein Expression

Our data have demonstrated that naive WARs display ED in vivo that is associated with increased sympathetic-mediated contractile responses and decreased NANC-mediated relaxation responses. The increase in contractile responses is independent of the ROCK pathway, and the changes in relaxation responses are associated with a decrease in nNOS protein expression, which may activate compensatory mechanisms in the cavernous tissue.