Does chronic ethanol consumption induce cavernosal smooth muscle dysfunction in rats?
Ethanol consumption reduces endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine, but does not affect SNP or EFS-induced relaxation, suggesting that ethanol disrupts the endothelial function. Despite the overexpression of eNOS and iNOS in ethanol-treated rats, the impaired relaxation induced by acetylcholine may suggest that chronic ethanol consumption induces endothelial dysfunction.
FANCC and PTCH1 alterations might be used as molecular markers for prognosis and to develop strategies for effective treatment planning.