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Expressions of vaginal endothelial nitric oxide synthase and phosphodiesterase 5 in female sexual dysfunction: a pilot study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The objective was to investigate the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 in vaginal tissue of premenopausal women experiencing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with and without sexual dysfunction.

Methods

Women presenting for treatment of SUI were screened using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and 10 were selected who met the criteria for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and 10 asymptomatic controls. Vaginal tissue specimens were obtained from those premenopausal women aged ≥40 years who had had sexual activity ≥2 times every month for the last 6 months and who were scheduled to undergo surgery for SUI. FSD criteria was FSFI scores <18 and arousal domain scores <3. The control group had FSFI scores ≥26 and individual domain scores ≥4. The expressions of eNOS and PDE 5 were compared in the two groups using immunofluorescence staining and western blotting.

Results

The mean total FSFI scores were 30.4 ± 2.6 and 15.3 ± 2.3 in the control and FSD groups respectively. In immunofluorescence staining, eNOS and PDE5 were localized in the vaginal epithelium. In western blotting, the expressions of eNOS and PDE5 were significantly lower in the FSD group than in the control group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.038 respectively).

Conclusions

eNOS and PDE5 in the vagina may play important roles in the pathophysiology of FSD.

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Abbreviations

cGMP:

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate

eNOS:

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase

FSD:

Female sexual dysfunction

FSFI:

Female Sexual Function Index

NO:

Nitric oxide

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

PDE:

Phosphodiesterase

SUI:

Stress urinary incontinence

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Bucheon St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Kang Jun Cho & Joon Chul Kim

  2. Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Kyu-Sung Lee

  3. Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Myung-Soo Choo

  4. Department of Urology, Cheil General Hospital and Women’s Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Ju Tae Seo

  5. Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jang Hwan Kim

  6. Department of Urology, Ajou University Hospital, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea

    Jong Bo Choi

  7. Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Seung-June Oh

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  1. Kang Jun Cho
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Correspondence to Joon Chul Kim.

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Cho, K.J., Lee, KS., Choo, MS. et al. Expressions of vaginal endothelial nitric oxide synthase and phosphodiesterase 5 in female sexual dysfunction: a pilot study. Int Urogynecol J 28, 431–436 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-016-3159-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-016-3159-5

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