foszfodiészteráz5

A foszfodiészteráz5, commonly abbreviated as PDE5, is an enzyme found in various tissues throughout the body, most notably in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and in the corpus cavernosum of the penis. Its primary function is to break down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP is a crucial signaling molecule that plays a role in vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels. By degrading cGMP, PDE5 effectively counteracts the vasodilatory effects, leading to a reduction in blood vessel diameter.

In the context of erectile function, PDE5 is particularly important. When sexual stimulation occurs, nitric oxide (NO) is released, which leads to an increase in cGMP levels in the penile corpus cavernosum. This elevated cGMP causes the smooth muscles to relax, allowing blood to flow into the penis and resulting in an erection. PDE5 then acts to break down this cGMP, eventually causing the erection to subside.

Inhibitors of PDE5, known as PDE5 inhibitors, are a class of drugs that work by blocking the action of the PDE5 enzyme. By inhibiting PDE5, these drugs prevent the breakdown of cGMP, thus maintaining higher levels of cGMP. This sustained increase in cGMP promotes vasodilation and facilitates the achievement and maintenance of an erection. The most well-known PDE5 inhibitors are used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.