Penis Research Offers Erection Hope
A scientists team from Hopkins has make breakthrough in the science of penile erection. It showed for the first time the mechanism for continued production of nitric oxide maintaining an erection over time. The results of the research are published in the issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on March 19.
10 years ago Researchers at Hopkins discovered that erection is caused by release of nitric oxide from nerve endings in the penis. However, they couldn't explain how erections are naturally sustained over time with the temporary release of nitric oxide - a neurotransmitter that survives just a few seconds before breaking down.
Hopkins scientists where working with rats and genetically transformed mice. They found that after an initial burst of nitric oxide from nerve endings triggers erection, blood vessels release more nitric oxide to harden and maintain the erection once occurred.
Burnett explains that the source of nitric oxide in the blood vessels is continuously activated so that more nitric oxide is released, more tissue relaxes, more blood comes in and a sustained erection is achieved once blood starts flowing into the penis.
Nitric oxide is a relaxant that allows blood vessels to open up or dilate, bringing increased blood flow and swelling of tissues. This cascade of events begins when erotic thoughts or physical sensations produce nitric oxide release in nerve endings in the penis. The flow of blood also creates a minor stress on the blood vessel wall which activates the release of more nitric oxide. This time it is from cells in the wall of the blood vessel - the endothelial cells - rather than from nerves. Endothelial nitric oxide forces more tissue to relax and the process repeats until the penis is erected fully.
According to the research results, the key element in the attainment of erection is the continuous activation of the source of nitric oxide in blood vessel walls. Finding this source, a special form of the enzyme called endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), plus the discovery that the pressure of flowing blood against a vessel wall could induce it to produce nitric oxide, were critical pieces of the puzzle. These findings provide a wider image of the complex erection physiology.
This understanding of nitric oxide's effect can be extended to other areas of the body that are more difficult to observe (heart and other internal organs).
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