Effects of Atorvastatin and Gemfibrozil on Mice Corpus Cavernosum In Vitro

Most of the drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases cause unfavorable effects on erectile functions. In this study, the effect of atorvastatin and gemfibrozil, which have different hypolipidemic mechanisms of action, on the erectile functions observed in mouse corpus cavernosum tissues is evaluated in vitro. Mouse corpus cavernosum tissues are dissected under ketamine and xylazine anesthesia. Vessels were suspended in 30 mL organ baths filled with Krebs solution and aerated with carbogen (95% O₂, 5% CO₂) at 37°C. An initial tension of 500 mg was applied to the suspended tissue strips. After a stabilization period of 90 min, the protocols were applied to the tissue. Atorvastatin and gemfibrozil showed no direct contractile or relaxant effect on corpus cavernosum tissues. Both drugs caused a dose-dependent relaxation in tissues precontracted with phenylephrine. Although the relaxant effect of atorvastatin is inhibited 40% by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), these relaxations are totally inhibited by atropine. The relaxations caused by gemfibrozil are inhibited both by L-NAME and atropine. No change was observed in responses of the tissues to acetylcholine, nitroprusside, and electrical field stimulation when incubated with atorvastatin or gemfibrozil. As a conclusion, both drugs showed similar effects on corpus cavernosum tissues. Atorvastatin and gemfibrozil caused these effects via endothelial nitric oxide. When all the results are evaluated, not only did the two drugs show no unfavorable effects, but they may also have some beneficial effects on erectile functions.