Epidemiological Studies Suggest A Relationship Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Erectile Dysfunction (ED). We hypothesized that vitamin d deficiency or vitamin d receptor (VDR) Knockout causes ed and analyzed the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Erectile Function Was Assessed in Vivo in Anaesthetized Male Mice or Rats by Evaluating Intracavernousal Pressure (ICP) and in vitro in male vdr Mice, and Rat or Human Isolated Corpora Cavernosa (CCS) MOUNTED IN A MYOGRAPH. Bulk RNA-SEQUENCING (RNA-SEQ) Transcriptomic Analysis was performed in rat ccs. Vitamin D deficiecy was induced in rats fed a vitamin d-free diet for 5 months.
CCS from Human Owners with Low Plasma Vitamin D Exhibited Reduced Nitric Oxide (NO) -Dependent Erectile Function. This ed was also reproduced in vitamin d-Deficient rats and vdr knockout Mice, in vivo and ex vivo, and is associated with penile fibrosis and reduced response to the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (Pde5i) sildenafil. Ccs from deficient rats show Increased Suproxide Levels, and Their Impaired Erectile Function was Restored by Suporexide Scavengers. Transcriptomic Analysis, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot Showed Down-Regulated Secretary Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI). Moreover, Recombinant SLPI Prevent Suproxide-in, While Slpi Gene Silencing Led to Reduced Erectile Function in The Suproxide-Pedentan Manner.
Vitamin D deficiecy or vdr knockout reduces erectile function. We suggest that this effect is mediated by Increased Suproxide Levels and Down-Regulation of Slpi. Vitamin D deficiency might be an a -etiological factor for vascular ed and for the therapeutic failure of pde5i.
© 2025 The Author (s). British Journal of Pharmacology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on Behalf of British Pharmacological Society.
The Post Vitamin D deficiency induces erectile dysfunction: Role of Suproxide and SLPI. First Appeared on Physician’s Weekly.
