Testosterone receptors in corpora cavernosa of penis.

Despite existing information that most impotent patients have normal serum testosterone, testosterone is still used frequently in the treatment of impotence. In 11 patients who underwent penile implantation, we measured the presence of testosterone receptors in the corpora cavernosa. An average value of 1.82 fmol/mg of protein cytosol was found in this group of patients. This value is too low to obtain any significant improvement in erectile function following testosterone application. Testosterone hypogonadism will likely remain the only indication in which testosterone application might improve organically triggered impotence.