A neurotrophic factor comprising a glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family-related compound (GDNF) selected from the group consisting of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurtin (NRTN), artemin (ARTN) and persephin (PSPN) or a neurotrophin (NTF) selected from the group consisting of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin 4/5 (Nt-4/5) or conservatively substitute variants thereof or nucleotides sequences encoding the factors alone or in combination can be used for manufacturing a medical product acting as a stimulating or suppressing trophic support for treating a subject suffering from peripheral dysfunctions originating from the nerves innervating target organs of the pelvic area, other than urinary incontinence . The medical product acting as a stimulating or suppressing trophic support is provided as a composition for enteral, parenteral, local systemic administration or enhanced production. Preferably the peripheral dysfunction is a penile erectile dysfunction or caused by an acute penile trauma, penile surgery, prostatic surgery, bladder surgery and the nerves innervating the target organs are pelvic plexus, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and/or preganglionic autonomic neurons.
Neurotrophic factors in the treatment of peripheral nerve dysfunction of pelvic area