Erectogenic Effect of the Selective Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor DA-8159

DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, was assessed for its erectogenic potential by a penile erection test in rats, the relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum (CC), and estimation of the intracavernous pressure (ICP) in the anesthetized dog. Oral administration of DA-8159 (0.3 to 1 ${\mu}g/kg$ ) increased the number of erections in rats with increasing dosage, with the highest penile erection index at 10 ${\mu}g/kg$ DA-8159 induced the relaxation of phenylephrine (PHE)-induced contractions in the rabbit CC and decreased the $IC_{50}$ of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in a dose-dependent fashion. In pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, the intravenous administration of DA-8159 (1~300 ${\mu}g/kg$ ) potentiated the increase in ICP induced by the intracavernosal SNP in a dose-related manner. These findings suggest that DA-8159 has significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.