You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction/Andrology: Basic Research I1 Apr 2015MP52-14 EXPRESSIONS OF VAGINAL PHOSPHODIESTERASE 5 AND NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE IN FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION Kang Jun Cho, Jang Hwan Kim, Jong Bo Choi, Seung-June Oh, Kyu-Sung Lee, Myung-Soo Choo, Young Ho Kim, and Joon Chul Kim Kang Jun ChoKang Jun Cho More articles by this author , Jang Hwan KimJang Hwan Kim More articles by this author , Jong Bo ChoiJong Bo Choi More articles by this author , Seung-June OhSeung-June Oh More articles by this author , Kyu-Sung LeeKyu-Sung Lee More articles by this author , Myung-Soo ChooMyung-Soo Choo More articles by this author , Young Ho KimYoung Ho Kim More articles by this author , and Joon Chul KimJoon Chul Kim More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.1731AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are important enzymes related to sexual function and are found in the vaginal tissue. We investigated the change in expression of vaginal PDE5 and eNOS in women with sexual dysfunction to identify the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). METHODS We obtained specimens of vaginal tissue from women aged ≥40 years who were undergoing surgery for stress urinary incontinence and had sexual activity ≥2 times every month for the last 6 months. Those with menopause or histories of vaginal surgery, total hysterectomy, oophorectomy, stage 2 or greater pelvic organ prolapse, diabetes mellitus, depression, and other diseases could influence sexual function were excluded. Patients completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire for the evaluation of female sexual function. The FSD group was defined as patients with an FSFI <18 and arousal domain scores <3. Patients with an FSFI ≥26 and individual domain scores ≥4 were used as a control group. Expressions of PDE5 and eNOS were compared between the FSD and control groups by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. RESULTS In total, 16 women were evaluated. The mean total FSFI was 30.8 ± 2.8 in the FSD group (n = 8) and 14.8 ± 2.4 in the control group (n = 8). Immunofluorescence staining showed that PDE5 and eNOS were localized in the vaginal epithelium. In Western blot analysis, immunoreactive bands indicating expression of eNOS were decreased in the FSD group than in the control group, although this was not statistically significant. Immunoreactive bands indicating expression of PDE5 were significantly decreased in the FSD group than in the control group (P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS eNOS and PDE5 in the vagina have a role in the pathophysiology of FSD. The expression of PDE5 in the vagina was decreased in women with sexual dysfunction. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e632 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Kang Jun Cho More articles by this author Jang Hwan Kim More articles by this author Jong Bo Choi More articles by this author Seung-June Oh More articles by this author Kyu-Sung Lee More articles by this author Myung-Soo Choo More articles by this author Young Ho Kim More articles by this author Joon Chul Kim More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...