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. 2022 Oct 27;14:1945–1961. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S375571

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© 2022 Zhang et al.

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Putative mechanisms linking short sleep duration and erectile dysfunction. Short sleep duration caused by sleep disorders or lifestyle might provoke the over-activity of the HPA axis, the imbalance of ANS, aberrant SREs and low levels of testosterone. These intermediate mechanisms could lead to unwanted effects on penile erection through varied downstream molecular signaling, including but not limited to endothelial dysfunction, excessive vasoconstriction, inflammation and hypoxia.

Abbreviations: HPA axis: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; ANS: Autonomic nervous system; SREs: Sleep-related erections; NPY: Neuropeptide Y.