Intracavernous pharmacotherapy: treatment for the aging erectile response.

Fueled by serendipity, observation, and direct scientific investigations over the last 15 years the normal mechanisms of erection, and the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction have been revealed. The demonstrations that vasoactive injections could produce penile erection without benefit of psychic or tactile stimuli revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction by providing a direct test of end organ integrity or deficiency. This article reviews the clinical pharmacology of vasoactive corporal agents and outlines what has been surmised about the aging erectile response.