Abstract | INTRODUCTION: AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of icariin in the penis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat. METHODS: Two-month-old Sprague-Dawley male rats received one-time intraperitoneal (IP) STZ (60 mg/kg) or vehicle injection after a 16-hour fast. Three days later, the STZ-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups and were treated with daily gavage feedings of a 50:50 mix of normal saline and dimethyl sulfoxide ( DMSO) or icariin dissolved in DMSO at doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg for 3 months. A positive control group underwent IP injection of saline followed by daily gavage of saline/ DMSO solution. Treatment was stopped 1 week prior to functional assay and euthanasia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Penile hemodynamics was assessed by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves with real-time intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement. After euthanasia, penile tissue was studied using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) and TGFβ1/Smad2 signaling pathway. RESULTS: CONCLUSION:
Icariin treatment preserved penile hemodynamics, smooth muscle and endothelial integrity, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in the penis of diabetic rats. Down-regulation of TGFβ1/Smad2 signaling pathway might mediate this effect.
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Authors | Tao Liu, Hua Xin, Wei-Ren Li, Feng Zhou, Guang-Yong Li, Yan-Qing Gong, Zhe-Zhu Gao, Xin-Cheng Qin, Wan-Shou Cui, Alan W Shindel, Zhong-Cheng Xin |
Journal | The journal of sexual medicine
(J Sex Med)
Vol. 8
Issue 10
Pg. 2761-72
(Oct 2011)
ISSN: 1743-6109 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 21967314
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2011 International Society for Sexual Medicine. |
Chemical References |
- Flavonoids
- Smad2 Protein
- Smad2 protein, rat
- Transforming Growth Factor beta1
- Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
- icariin
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Topics |
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
(complications)
- Erectile Dysfunction
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Flavonoids
(therapeutic use)
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Male
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
(chemistry, drug effects)
- Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
(analysis)
- Penile Erection
(drug effects)
- Penis
(blood supply, chemistry, drug effects)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Signal Transduction
(drug effects)
- Smad2 Protein
(physiology)
- Transforming Growth Factor beta1
(analysis)
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