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Semen reactive oxygen species levels are correlated with erectile function among chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 335–341 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is often associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of ED occurrence are still unclear in patients with CP/CPPS. The aim of the study was to investigate superoxide anion (O2•−) and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in semen of men with category IIIA CP/CPPS and their association with ED. This prospective study included 33 men with category IIIA CP/CPPS. Control group consisted of 13 healthy men. Total ROS and O2•− production were assayed by luminol and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) methods, respectively. ED was evaluated using the IIEF-5 questionnaire. Patients with CP/CPPS had significantly higher seminal total ROS and O2•− levels than healthy control subjects (2.9 ± 0.5 relative light unit (RLU) vs. 2.4 ± 0.2 RLU, p < 0.001; luminol-dependent CL and 2.5 ± 0.4 RLU vs. 2.3 ± 0.2 RLU, p = 0.02; lucigenin-dependent CL, respectively). Seminal O2•− and ROS levels were negatively correlated with IIEF-5 scores (r = −0.556, r = −0.536; p < 0.001, respectively). These results may suggest O2•−/ROS overproduction could be one of the important mechanisms in the etiology of ED development in CP/CPPS patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Health Sciences, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ilter Alkan, Anıl Atalay, Halil Lütfi Canat, Mehmet Gokhan Culha & Muammer Bozkurt

  2. Department of Medical Laboratory, Vocational School of Health-Related Services, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Meral Yüksel

  3. Department of Urology and Andrology, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hakan Özveri

  4. Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Çiğdem Arabacı

  5. Department of Urology and Andrology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Murad Başar

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Correspondence to Ilter Alkan.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Alkan, I., Yüksel, M., Özveri, H. et al. Semen reactive oxygen species levels are correlated with erectile function among chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients. Int J Impot Res 30, 335–341 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0047-1

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