Washington, March 14 (IANS) Scientists have found a new way to treat priapism, or the condition that causes prolonged erection even without a flicker of sexual interest. In a study by researchers at the University of Texas, male mice exhibiting priapism were found to lack the protein ADA, which breaks down the molecule adenosine that causes the disorder.

And ADA therapy helped curb the proliferating adenosine, giving relief to the priapic mice.

Findings of the study have been carried in the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Considered a medical emergency, Priapism is associated with decreased blood flow to the erectile tissue, which can damage the tissue and cause erectile dysfunction and even impotence.

Poor understanding of its molecular mechanism had stymied efforts at developing an effective treatment.

Yang Xia and colleagues at the University of Texas found that further analysis indicated high levels of adenosine-induced priapism through stimulation of the A2B adenosine receptor in ADA-deficient mice.

The researchers have suggested that approaches to either reduce adenosine levels or block A2B adenosine receptor activation might provide new ways to treat priapism.