Courses of Arginine-Vasopressin in the Systemic and Cavernous Blood through Different Stages of Sexual Arousal in Healthy Males and Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

Table 1

Plasma levels of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in peripheral and cavernosal blood samples taken from healthy male volunteers during different conditions of sexual arousal, exemplified by the penile conditions flaccidity, tumescence, rigidity, and detumescence.

Penile condition	Blood source	Blood withdrawals commenced	AVP (ng/l plasma)
Flaccidity	CV	14
	CC	14
Tumescence	CV	25
	CC	25
Rigidity	CV	24
	CC	24
Detumescence	CV	17
	CC	17

§ indicates that the concentration of AVP is significantly different from those measured in the phase of penile flaccidity. Asterisk () indicates that the concentration is significantly different from those measured in the systemic blood. CC: corpus cavernosum; CV: cubital vein.