Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate altitude-dependent effects on sleep-related erections (SREs) in order to estimate the role of hypoxia in erection physiology. Penile erections are physiological events based on neuroendocrine and neurochemical mechanisms. SREs occur during REM sleep and their measurement is commonly used to discriminate between psychogenic and organic erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: SREs were recorded by RigiScan on a mountain climber involved in the Manaslu expedition 2008, during 43 consecutive nights at altitudes ranging from 0 to 5900 m. Erections number and duration, event duration (% of session), event rigidity %, time rigidity 0-59% and 60-100%, tumescence activated unit and rigidity activated unit and event tum %>bline (%) were assessed. The subject was equipped with a BodyMedia’s SenseWear™ armband in order to exclude disorders on sleep quality. Results: No significant differences were observed comparing Total Sleep Times and Rough Sleep Efficiencies approaching to Base Camp (BC) (5050m), with respect to values detected during BC sojourn. Oppositely, during BC approach to and at BC, the erectile parameters showed an altitude-correlated reduction trend. During the low ascending the subject had increased trends in all studied NPTR (Nocturnal Penile Tumescence and Rigidity) parameters, with respect to pre-expedition values relative to sea level. On the opposite, a decline in the physiological erectile function was experienced by the subject at high altitude BC and marked reductions in all the NPTR parameters were recorded by RigiScan analysis. The return to sea level not only reverted but has improved these functional reductions detected at high altitude. Conclusion: Although hypoxia represents a condition related to many co-morbidity ED factors, the literature still does not claim explicitly hypoxia as an etiological ED factor. Our results suggest that oxygen availability and delivery could play an important role in the regulation of local penile erection-related mechanisms and that low oxygen levels might be considered an etiological factor in ED.

Effects Of Hypoxia On Nocturnal Erection Quality: A Case Study From The Manaslu Expedition

VERRATTI, Vittore;DI GIULIO, Camillo
2010-01-01

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate altitude-dependent effects on sleep-related erections (SREs) in order to estimate the role of hypoxia in erection physiology. Penile erections are physiological events based on neuroendocrine and neurochemical mechanisms. SREs occur during REM sleep and their measurement is commonly used to discriminate between psychogenic and organic erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: SREs were recorded by RigiScan on a mountain climber involved in the Manaslu expedition 2008, during 43 consecutive nights at altitudes ranging from 0 to 5900 m. Erections number and duration, event duration (% of session), event rigidity %, time rigidity 0-59% and 60-100%, tumescence activated unit and rigidity activated unit and event tum %>bline (%) were assessed. The subject was equipped with a BodyMedia’s SenseWear™ armband in order to exclude disorders on sleep quality. Results: No significant differences were observed comparing Total Sleep Times and Rough Sleep Efficiencies approaching to Base Camp (BC) (5050m), with respect to values detected during BC sojourn. Oppositely, during BC approach to and at BC, the erectile parameters showed an altitude-correlated reduction trend. During the low ascending the subject had increased trends in all studied NPTR (Nocturnal Penile Tumescence and Rigidity) parameters, with respect to pre-expedition values relative to sea level. On the opposite, a decline in the physiological erectile function was experienced by the subject at high altitude BC and marked reductions in all the NPTR parameters were recorded by RigiScan analysis. The return to sea level not only reverted but has improved these functional reductions detected at high altitude. Conclusion: Although hypoxia represents a condition related to many co-morbidity ED factors, the literature still does not claim explicitly hypoxia as an etiological ED factor. Our results suggest that oxygen availability and delivery could play an important role in the regulation of local penile erection-related mechanisms and that low oxygen levels might be considered an etiological factor in ED.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/227502
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