New research on erectile dysfunction

The flaccid state of organ is showing new pathway to treat ED
Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia are working on a new approach to treat Erectile Dysfunction. Instead of relaxing the penile muscles with the existing line of treatment like Viagra the new research is exploring the pathway which involves reducing the contraction of smooth muscles.

An experimental drugY-27632 has been used in an animal model to check Rho- kinase, an enzyme central to smooth muscle contraction; the result was an immediate, sustainable erection could be achieved thereby.

Dr. Thomas M. Mills, MCG physiologist and investigator on the study said," it’s a dramatic response which leaves us hopeful that we have found a potential new approach to treating erectile dysfunction,"

Erectile dysfunction is to do with Men’s Sexual Health problem wherein an affected man is either unable to or able to briefly sustain erection of his organ at the time of Sexual Intercourse.

"We are very excited about this research because it takes a unique approach that has not been looked at before," said Dr. Ronald W. Lewis, chief of the MCG Section of Urology and consultant on the Y-27632 study. The new ED research focuses on the fact that most of the time penis remains in flaccid state. Thus working on the line of what causes smooth relaxation was logical.

Unlike in case of rest of the body, it is the muscular relaxation which is working to bring an organ to its functional state. This means, as the researchers explain, there is a constant release of vasoconstrictors in the blood stream which keep the smooth muscles of the organ contracted, thus keeping it flaccid.

The continuing research on ED stems from the fact that the existing line of medication is unable to treat the problem in all men. This indicates that ED may not be happening as a result of the disturbance in one pathway only. Hence the search for new pathways and the drugs.