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Liu S, Li J, Wang W, Zhang Y, Li S, Li T, Jiang J, Zhao F. Prenatal exposure to dibutyl phthalate contributes to erectile dysfunction in offspring male rats by activating the RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway. Toxicology 2024; 508:153925. [PMID: 39151608 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) has been reported to cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult offspring rats. However, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Previously, we found that DBP activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway in the male reproductive system. This study investigated how prenatal exposure to DBP activates the RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway, leading to ED in male rat offspring. Pregnant rats were stratified into DBP-exposed and NC groups, with the exposed group receiving 750 milligrams per kilogram per day (mg/kg/day) of DBP through gavage from days 14-18 of gestation. DBP exposure activated the RhoA/ROCK pathway in the penile corpus cavernosum (CC) of descendants, causing smooth muscle cell contraction, fibrosis, and apoptosis, all of which contribute to ED. In vitro experiments confirmed that DBP induces apoptosis and RhoA/ROCK pathway activation in CC smooth muscle cells. Treatment of DBP-exposed offspring with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 for 8 weeks significantly improved smooth muscle cell condition, erectile function, and reduced fibrosis. Thus, prenatal DBP exposure induces ED in offspring through RhoA/ROCK pathway activation, and the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 shows potential as an effective treatment for DBP-induced ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Liu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jianying Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Wenhao Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yijun Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Shufeng Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Tiewen Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Juntao Jiang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
| | - Fujun Zhao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China; Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
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Chen YZ, Zhou YH, Yan MB, Xiao M, Liu B, Yin YH, Tan XL, Huang YQ, Lin YH, Xie T, Tian JL, Wang Q, Li JY, Meng ZZ, Li Z, Xing E, Tang YX, Li YW, Su ZZ, Zhao LY. Artificial cavernosa-like tissue based on multibubble Matrigel and a human corpus cavernous fibroblast scaffold. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:260-267. [PMID: 38319194 PMCID: PMC11156451 DOI: 10.4103/aja202374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo tissue culture of the human corpus cavernosum (CC) can be used to explore the tissue structural changes and complex signaling networks. At present, artificial CC-like tissues based on acellular or three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds are used to solve the scarcity of primary penis tissue samples. However, inconvenience and high costs limit the wide application of such methods. Here, we describe a simple, fast, and economical method of constructing artificial CC-like tissue. Human CC fibroblasts (FBs), endothelial cells (ECs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were expanded in vitro and mixed with Matrigel in specific proportions. A large number of bubbles were formed in the mixture by vortexing combined with pipette blowing, creating a porous, spongy, and spatial structure. The CC FBs produced a variety of signaling factors, showed multidirectional differentiation potential, and grew in a 3D grid in Matrigel, which is necessary for CC-like tissue to maintain a porous structure as a cell scaffold. Within the CC-like tissue, ECs covered the surface of the lumen, and SMCs were located inside the trabeculae, similar to the structure of the primary CC. Various cell components remained stable for 3 days in vitro , but the EC content decreased on the 7 th day. Wingless/integrated (WNT) signaling activation led to lumen atrophy and increased tissue fibrosis in CC-like tissue, inducing the same changes in characteristics as in the primary CC. This study describes a preparation method for human artificial CC-like tissue that may provide an improved experimental platform for exploring the function and structure of the CC and conducting drug screening for erectile dysfunction therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Zhuo Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Yi-Hong Zhou
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Min-Bo Yan
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Ming Xiao
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Biao Liu
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Ying-Hao Yin
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Xiao-Li Tan
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Yong-Quan Huang
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Yu-Hong Lin
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Jia-Li Tian
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Jian-Ying Li
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men’s Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zi-Zhou Meng
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men’s Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men’s Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Emily Xing
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Yu-Xin Tang
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Ya-Wei Li
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Zhong-Zhen Su
- Department of Ultrasound, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Liang-Yu Zhao
- Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
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Ding W, Fan JH, Zhong LR, Wang NX, Liu LH, Zhang HB, Wang L, Wang MQ, He BL, Wei AY. N-acetylcysteine ameliorates erectile dysfunction in rats with hyperlipidemia by inhibiting oxidative stress and corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells phenotypic modulation. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:99-106. [PMID: 37534881 PMCID: PMC10846835 DOI: 10.4103/aja202324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). Oxidative stress and phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) are the key pathological factors of ED. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can inhibit oxidative stress; however, whether NAC can alleviate pathological variations in the corpus cavernosum and promote erectile function recovery in hyperlipidemic rats remains unclear. A hyperlipidemia model was established using 27 eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (hyperlipidemic rats, HR). In addition, 9 male SD rats were fed a normal diet to serve as controls (NC). HR rats were divided into three groups: HR, HR+normal saline (NS), and HR+NAC (n = 9 for each group; NS or NAC intraperitoneal injections were administered daily for 16 weeks). Subsequently, the lipid profiles, erectile function, oxidative stress, phenotypic modulation markers of CCSMCs, and tissue histology were analyzed. The experimental results revealed that erectile function was significantly impaired in the HR and HR + NS groups, but enhanced in the HR + NAC group. Abnormal lipid levels, over-activated oxidative stress, and multi-organ lesions observed in the HR and HR + NS groups were improved in the HR + NAC group. Moreover, the HR group showed significant phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs, which was also inhibited by NAC treatment. This report focuses on the therapeutic effect of NAC in restoring erectile function using a hyperlipidemic rat model by preventing CCSMC phenotypic modulation and attenuating oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ding
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Jun-Hong Fan
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Li-Ren Zhong
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Nan-Xiong Wang
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen Immigration Inspection General Station Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Lu-Hao Liu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Hai-Bo Zhang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Ming-Qiang Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Bing-Lin He
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - An-Yang Wei
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, China
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Ma X, Yang W, Nie P, Zhang Z, Chen Z, Wei H. Implantation of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells improves erectile function in a bilateral cavernous nerve injury rat model. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:11. [PMID: 37198550 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-023-00187-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic potential of the skin-derived precursor Schwann cells for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerve injury. RESULTS The skin-derived precursor Schwann cells-treatment significantly restored erectile functions, accelerated the recovery of endothelial and smooth muscle tissues in the penis, and promoted nerve repair. The expression of p-Smad2/3 decreased after the treatment, which indicated significantly reduced fibrosis in the corpus cavernosum. CONCLUSIONS Implantation of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells is an effective therapeutic strategy for treating erectile dysfunction induced by bilateral cavernous nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Wende Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Pan Nie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Zhenbin Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Zehong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hongbo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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Song G, Hu P, Song J, Liu J, Ruan Y. Molecular pathogenesis and treatment of cavernous nerve injury-induced erectile dysfunction: A narrative review. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1029650. [PMID: 36277218 PMCID: PMC9582663 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1029650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication after radical prostatectomy (RP), and it seriously affects the quality of life in patients and their partners. The primary trigger of postoperative ED is surgical injury to the cavernous nerves that control penile erection and run along the anterolateral aspect of the prostate. Despite the introduction and ongoing innovation of nerve-sparing techniques, a significant number of patients still suffer from moderate cavernous nerve injury (CNI), which is thought to be transient and reversible. Therefore, early postoperative penile rehabilitation therapy may salvage patients’ erectile function by promoting cavernous nerve regeneration and preventing penile structural alterations.Aims: To present a comprehensive overview of the current molecular pathogenesis of CNI-induced ED, as well as novel therapeutic strategies and their potential mechanisms.Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed. Search terms included erectile dysfunction, cavernous nerve injury, pathogenesis, pathway, and treatment.Results: The NOS/NO pathway, oxidative stress-related pathway, RhoA/ROCK pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), sonic hedgehog (Shh), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are involved in the molecular pathogenesis of CNI-induced ED. Multiple neurotrophins, including brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neurturin (NTN), were found to promote cavernous nerve regeneration. Emerging therapeutic approaches can be roughly summarized into four categories, namely small molecule and drug, stem cell-based therapy (SCT), micro-energy therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.Conclusion: These pathways collectively lead to the irreversible damage to the penile structure after CNI. The combined early rehabilitation strategies of promoting upstream nerve regeneration and recovering abnormal molecular signals of downstream penis are presumed to save patients’ erectile function after RP. In future studies, the cross-talk between these molecular pathways needs to be further clarified, and the questions of how denervation injury induces the molecular alterations in the penis also need to be addressed.
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Sorkhi S, Sanchez CC, Cho MC, Cho SY, Chung H, Park MG, Lahey S, Hsieh TC, Bhargava V, Rajasekaran MR. Transpelvic Magnetic Stimulation Enhances Penile Microvascular Perfusion in a Rat Model: A Novel Interventional Strategy to Prevent Penile Fibrosis after Cavernosal Nerve Injury. World J Mens Health 2022; 40:501-508. [PMID: 35021308 PMCID: PMC9253801 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.210162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Penile microvascular dysfunction is a known contributor to erectile dysfunction (ED) and penile fibrosis has been shown to impair microvascular perfusion (MVP). Our objectives were to: (i) determine beneficial effects of TPMS to modulate penile MVP, (ii) determine its mechanism, (iii) evaluate impact of cavernosal nerve injury (CNI) on penile MVP, and (iv) determine time-course of cavernosal tissue elastin changes after CNI in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult male rats (n=5) were anesthetized and subjected to TPMS (13%, 15%, and 17%) and MVP changes were recorded using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Another group of male rats were subjected to either bilateral cavernosal nerve injury (CNI; n=7) or sham surgery (n=7). After recovery, animals were monitored for MVP using LSCI before and after TPMS. Rat penile tissues were harvested and analyzed for fibrosis using a marker for elastin. RESULTS Rat TPMS resulted in a stimulus dependent increase in MVP; maximal perfusion was observed at 17%. L-N(G)-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) resulted in a marked decrease in TPMS induced MVP increase (393.33 AU vs. 210.67 AU). CNI resulted in 40% to 50% decrease in MVP. CNI produced a remarkable increase in elastin deposits that are noticeable throughout the cavernosal tissues post injury. CONCLUSIONS TPMS is a novel and non-invasive intervention to improve penile MVP after CNI. Potential application includes treatment of ED and sexual function preservation following cancer treatment, possibly through improved penile hemodynamics that might help prevent penile hypoxia and fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Sorkhi
- Department of Urology, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Cano Sanchez
- Department of Urology, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Yong Cho
- Department of Urology, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
| | - Hong Chung
- Department of Urology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Chungju, Korea
| | - Min Gu Park
- Department of Urology, Inje University, Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Susan Lahey
- Department of Urology, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tung-Chin Hsieh
- Department of Urology, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Valmik Bhargava
- Department of Medicine, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mahadevan Raj Rajasekaran
- Department of Urology, VA San Diego Health Care System, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Cavernous Nerve Injury Resulted Erectile Dysfunction and Regeneration. J Immunol Res 2022; 2021:5353785. [PMID: 34970630 PMCID: PMC8714392 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5353785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important cause of reduced quality of life for men and their partners. Recent studies have found that cavernous nerve injury (CNI) during prostate cancer surgery and other pelvic surgery results in medically induced CNIED in more than 80% of patients. The efficacy of first- and second-line treatment options for ED is poor. A great deal of research has been devoted to exploring new methods of neuroprotection and nerve regeneration to save erectile function in patients with CNIED, especially in patients with cavernous nerve injury after prostate cancer surgery. In addition, such as neuromodulatory proteins, proimmune ligands, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and the current cutting-edge low-energy shock wave therapy have shown advantages in basic research and limited clinical studies. In the context of today's modern medicine, these new therapeutic techniques are expected to be new tools in the treatment of cavernous nerve injury erectile dysfunction. This article presents the main causes, mechanisms, and treatment of cavernous nerve injury erectile dysfunction and combines them with new treatment strategies.
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Kim SW, Lee J, Oh S, Son H, Cho MC. Restoration of erectile function by a combination of antiapoptosis by JNK inhibitor and preservation of smooth muscle or endothelium by hepatocyte growth factor in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury. Prostate 2022; 82:49-58. [PMID: 34609772 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of structural alterations in the corpus cavernosum after radical prostatectomy (RP), post-RP erectile dysfunction remains a very difficult condition to treat. We aimed to determine if the combined administration of a Jun-amino terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the immediate post-injury period would restore erectile function by antiapoptotic and pro-regenerative effects through the rectification of molecular pathways related to the structural integrity of the penis in a rat model of bilateral cavernosal nerve crush injury (CNCI). METHODS A total of 70 rats were divided into five groups: Sham surgery (S), CNCI (I), and once-daily intraperitoneal administration of 10.0 mg/kg JNK inhibitor + twice-weekly intracavernosal administration of low-dose (2.1 μg), medium-dose (4.2 μg), or high-dose (8.4 μg) HGF (I + J + LH or I + J + MH or I + J + HH, respectively) in the immediate post-injury period. Erectile responses to electrostimulation (1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 V), histological staining, caspase-3 activity, and Western blotting were evaluated 9 days after surgery. RESULTS Group I showed lower intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) after stimulation at each voltage, lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP after stimulation at each voltage, less smooth muscle (SM) content, a lower SM/collagen ratio, higher caspase-3 activity, increased cJun phosphorylation, decreased protein expression of PECAM-1, decreased cMet phosphorylation, and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation compared to Group S. The SM content, SM/collagen ratio, protein expression of ICP/MAP, or AUC/MAP after stimulation at each voltage in Group I + J + LH were partially restored, despite the normalization of cJun phosphorylation and caspase-3 activity. The ICP/MAP, AUC/MAP, caspase-3 activity, SM content, protein expression of PECAM-1, cJun phosphorylation, cMet phosphorylation, and eNOS phosphorylation in both Groups I + J + MH and I + J + HH were restored to the levels observed in Group S, while the SM/collagen ratio was significantly improved but not completely normalized. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicated that the combined administration of a JNK inhibitor and medium or high-dose HGF to nerve-injured rats in the immediate post-injury period after CNCI may restore erectile function to a level comparable to the normal level by suppressing cavernosal apoptosis and preserving the integrity of SM or endothelium via rectification of the cJun and cMet/eNOS pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Junghoon Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sohee Oh
- Department of Biostatistics, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwancheol Son
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
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Qinyu-Zeng, Shuhua-He, Fengzhi-Chen, Li-Wang, Liren-Zhong, Jialiang-Hui, Wei-Ding, Junhong-Fan, Haibo-Zhang, Anyang-Wei. Administration of H 2S improves erectile dysfunction by inhibiting phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in bilateral cavernous nerve injury rats. Nitric Oxide 2021; 107:1-10. [PMID: 33246103 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic modulation of Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle Cells (CCSMCs) is an important step in the development and progression of bilateral cavernous nerve injury induced erectile dysfunction (BCNI-ED). To investigate the effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs in BCNI-ED rats, a total of 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 3 groups, including sham-operated (Sham) group, BCNI group and BCNI treated with NaHS (BCNI + NaHS) group. The treated group received intraperitoneal injection of NaHS (100 μmol kg-1day-1) for 4 weeks starting day 1 postoperatively. Erectile function was measured by the ratio of intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), and relevant tissues were harvested for Immunohistochemistry, Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome staining, H2S fluorescent probe WSP-1 and Western blot. The primary CCSMCs were isolated and pretreatment with NaHS before exposed to PDGF-BB (platelet-derived growth factor). Relative expression mRNA and protein of phenotypic biomarkers, RhoA, ROCK-1 and cell cycle proteins were detected. Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) and H2S levels in penile tissue was significantly decreased in the BCNI group compared with the Sham group. Compared with the BCNI group, administration of NaHS significantly increased the ratio of ICP/MAP, ratio of smooth muscle to collagen, expressions of a-SMA, calponin and decreased the expression of OPN, collagen-I, RhoA, ROCK1 in the penile tissue. PDGF-BB-treated CCSMCs exhibited higher expression of OPN, RhoA, ROCK1, and lower α-SMA, calponin, which were attenuated by NaHS pretreatment. NaHS suppressed RhoA/ROCK activity and decreased the expression of CDK2, Cyclin E1, while increased the expression of P27kip1 induced by PDGF-BB in CCSMCs. Taken together, this study indicated that exogenous H2S inhibited the phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs by suppressing RhoA/ROCK1 signaling and affecting its downstream factor, CDK2, Cyclin E1, P27kip1, thereby improved BCNI rat erectile function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu-Zeng
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shuhua-He
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Fengzhi-Chen
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Wang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Liren-Zhong
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jialiang-Hui
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Wei-Ding
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang University of Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Junhong-Fan
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Haibo-Zhang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Anyang-Wei
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Wang Y, Meng XH, Zhang QJ, Wang YM, Chen C, Wang YC, Zhou X, Ji CJ, Song NH. Losartan improves erectile function through suppression of corporal apoptosis and oxidative stress in rats with cavernous nerve injury. Asian J Androl 2020; 21:452-459. [PMID: 30880689 PMCID: PMC6732892 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_8_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the functional and morphological changes in the corpus cavernosum after cavernous nerve (CN) injury or neurectomy and then reveal whether treatment with the angiotensin II Type 1 receptor antagonist losartan would improve erectile function as well as its potential mechanisms. A total of 48 10-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats, weighing 300-350 g, were randomly divided into the following four groups (n = 12 per group): sham operation (Sham) group, bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) group, losartan-treated BCNI (BCNI + Losartan) group, and bilateral cavernous neurectomy (Neurectomy) group. Losartan was administered once daily by oral gavage at a dose of 30 mg kg-1 day-1 for 4 weeks starting on the day of surgery. The BCNI and the Neurectomy groups exhibited decreases in erectile response and increases in apoptosis and oxidative stress, compared with the Sham group. Treatment with losartan could have a modest effect on erectile function and significantly prevent corporal apoptosis and oxidative stress. The phospho-B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated death promoter (p-Bad)/Bad and phospho-the protein kinase B (p-AKT)/AKT ratios were substantially lower, while the Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/Bcl-2 ratio, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1), transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels, and caspase-3 activity were higher in the BCNI and Neurectomy groups than in the Sham group. After 4 weeks of daily administration with losartan, these expression levels were remarkably attenuated compared with the BCNI group. Taken together, our results suggested that early administration of losartan after CN injury could slightly improve erectile function and significantly reduce corporal apoptosis and oxidative stress by inhibiting the Akt/Bad/Bax/caspase-3 and Nrf2/Keap-1 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiang-Hu Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qi-Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Ya-Min Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yi-Chun Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Cheng-Jian Ji
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Ning-Hong Song
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Cho MC, Lee J, Park J, Kim SW. Restoration of Cavernous Veno-Occlusive Function through Chronic Administration of a Jun-Amino Terminal Kinase Inhibitor and a LIM-Kinase 2 Inhibitor by Suppressing Cavernous Apoptosis and Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury: A Comparison with a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor. World J Mens Health 2020; 39:541-549. [PMID: 32777863 PMCID: PMC8255392 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.200085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine if chronic administration of Jun-amino terminal kinase (JNK)-inhibitors and LIM-kinase 2 (LIMK2)-inhibitors from the immediate post-injury period in a rat model of cavernous-nerve-crush-injury could normalize cavernous-veno-occlusive-function, and to compare it with phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)-inhibitors. Materials and Methods A total of 75 12-week-old male Sprague–Dawley-rats were randomized into five groups: sham-surgery (S), cavernous-nerve-crush-injury (I), cavernous-nerve-crush-injury treated with 10.0 mg/kg LIMK2-inhibitor (L) or 10.0 mg/kg JNK-inhibitor and 10.0 mg/kg LIMK2-inhibitor (J+L) or 20.0 mg/kg udenafil (P) for five-weeks. Five-weeks after surgery, dynamic-infusion-cavernosometry, histological-studies, caspase-3-activity-assay, and Western-blot were investigated. Results Group-I had lower papaverine-response, higher maintenance-rate and higher drop-rate, compared to Group-S. Group-L, Group-J+L and Group-P showed improvement in the three dynamic-infusion-cavernosometry parameters. The papaverine-response and drop-rate in Group-J+L and Group-P recovered to sham-control level, but those in Group-L did not. Regarding apoptosis, Group-I had decreased content of α-smooth-muscle-actin, increased caspase-3 activity and increased cJun-phosphorylation. The cJun-phosphorylation improved only in Group-J+L. The α-smooth-muscle-actin content and caspase-3-activity in Group-J+L and Group-P improved, but those in Group-L were not. Regarding fibrosis, Group-I had decreased smooth muscle (SM)/collagen-ratio, increased protein-expression of fibronectin, and increased Cofilin-phosphorylation. Cofilin-phosphorylation was normalized in Group-L and Group-J+L, but not in Group-P. SM/collagen-ratio and protein-expression of fibronectin in Group-L, Group-J+L and Group-P improved. Conclusions Our data indicate that chronic inhibition of JNK and LIMK2 can restore cavernous-veno-occlusive-function by suppressing cavernous-apoptosis and cavernous-fibrosis, comparable to the results by PDE5-inhibitors. Chronic inhibition of JNK and LIMK2 might be a potential mechanism-specific targeted therapy for cavernous-veno-occlusive-dysfunction induced by cavernous nerve-injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Junghoon Lee
- Department of Urology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juhyun Park
- Department of Urology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Zewdie KA, Ayza MA, Tesfaye BA, Wondafrash DZ, Berhe DF. A Systematic Review on Rho-Kinase as a Potential Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction. Res Rep Urol 2020; 12:261-272. [PMID: 32766173 PMCID: PMC7373493 DOI: 10.2147/rru.s255743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common clinical condition with limited treatment options. The main aim of the present systematic review was to synthesize information on Rho-kinase as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of ED. Methods We performed a systematic literature study in PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus. Included studies were original articles studied the role of Rho-kinase in the pathogenesis and/or new treatment approach for ED in animal models and clinical studies, published between 2014 and 2019. Data derived from each study were study design used, interventions applied and main treatment outcomes. The quality of the selected articles was assessed by CAMARADES criteria and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 1067 original articles were retrieved in the given period and eighteen papers met our inclusion criteria. Five articles explain the role of Rho-kinase in ED pathogenesis using different models such as cavernous nerve crush injury, heart failure-induced ED, vasculogenic and post-radical prostatectomy ED, diabetes-induced ED and age-related ED. Other ten papers explain the role of novel drugs evaluated for ED treatment by targeting Rho-kinase as a new approach for ED therapy. The rest three papers discuss the role of plant extracts used by traditional society for the treatment of ED and assess their potential function in targeting Rho-kinase in animal models. The penile erectile functional index has shown that the ratio of intracavernosal pressure to mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) was decreased due to age and various chronic diseases. Whilst, ROCK I and ROCK II expression were increased. Western blot findings have also shown that ROCK II and MYPT-1 phosphorylation rates increased in cavernous tissue after ED induction. Besides, compounds which can inhibit the action of Rho-kinase activity showed relaxation of the corpus cavernosum, decrease in corporal fibrosis, and alleviate increased apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in an NO-independent manner. Moreover, histological and molecular dysregulation have been improved by inhibition of Rho-kinase. Conclusion Targeting Rho-kinase may be a possible target for the treatment of ED secondary to specific causes, and Rho-kinase inhibitors may be a new drug family for the treatment of ED. However, this requires further studies for in-depth understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaleab Alemayehu Zewdie
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Muluken Altaye Ayza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Amare Tesfaye
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Dawit Zewdu Wondafrash
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Derbew Fikadu Berhe
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
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13
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Cho MC, Lee J, Park J, Oh S, Chai JS, Son H, Paick JS, Kim SW. The effects of single versus combined therapy using LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor and type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitor on erectile function in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury-induced erectile dysfunction. Asian J Androl 2020; 21:493-500. [PMID: 30829289 PMCID: PMC6732899 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_114_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine whether combination of LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor (LIMK2i) and phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) could restore erectile function through suppressing cavernous fibrosis and improving cavernous apoptosis in a rat model of cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI). Seventy 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were equally distributed into five groups as follows: (1) sham surgery (Group S), (2) CNCI (Group I), (3) CNCI treated with daily intraperitoneal administration of 10.0 mg kg-1 LIMK2i (Group I + L), (4) daily oral administration of 20.0 mg kg-1 udenafil, PDE5i (Group I + U), and (5) combined administration of 10.0 mg kg-1 LIMK2i and 20.0 mg kg-1 udenafil (Group I + L + U). Rats in Groups I + L, I + U, and I + L + U were treated with respective regimens for 2 weeks after CNCI. At 2 weeks after surgery, erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation. Penile tissues were processed for histological studies and western blot. Group I showed lower intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP, decreased immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin, higher apoptotic index, lower SM/collagen ratio, increased phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts, decreased protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Akt/eNOS) phosphorylation, increased LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation, and increased protein expression of fibronectin, compared to Group S. In all three treatment groups, erectile responses, protein expression of fibronectin, and SM/collagen ratio were improved. Group I + L + U showed greater improvement in erectile response than Group I + L. SM content and apoptotic index in Groups I + U and I + L + U were improved compared to those in Group I. However, Group I + L did not show a significant improvement in SM content or apoptotic index. The number of phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts was normalized in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Akt/eNOS phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + U and I + L + U, but not in Group I + L. LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Our data indicate that combined treatment of LIMK2i and PDE5i immediate after CN injury could improve erectile function by improving cavernous apoptosis or eNOS phosphorylation and suppressing cavernous fibrosis. Rectification of Akt/eNOS and LIMK2/cofilin pathways appears to be involved in their improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Junghoon Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Juhyun Park
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Sohee Oh
- Department of Biostatistics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Ji Sun Chai
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Hwancheol Son
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Jae-Seung Paick
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
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Liu F, Ruze A, Liu W, Xiong K, Yiming A. Metabonomic profiling of blood plasma from erectile dysfunction patients using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2020; 52:332-335. [PMID: 32072181 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmz170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fengxia Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Abudureyimujiang Ruze
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Wenjuan Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Kun Xiong
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Adilijiang Yiming
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China
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15
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Human Tissue Kallikrein 1 Improves Erectile Dysfunction of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats by Inhibition of Excessive Oxidative Stress and Activation of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS Pathway. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:6834236. [PMID: 32190176 PMCID: PMC7066404 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6834236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of human tissue kallikrein 1 (hKLK1) on type 1 diabetes mellitus- (DM-) induced erectile dysfunction in rats. Materials and Methods. The homozygous transgenic rats (TGR) harboring the hKLK1 gene and age-matched wild-type Sprague Dawley rats (WTR) were involved, and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to induce diabetes in rats. Forty-eight-week-old male rats were randomly divided into a WTR group, TGR group, diabetic WTR group (WTDM), diabetic TGR group (TGDM), and TGDM with HOE140 group (TGDMH), with eight rats in each group. Twelve weeks later, the erectile response of all rats was detected by cavernous nerve electric stimulation, and corpus cavernosums were harvested to evaluate the levels of cavernous oxidative stress (OS), apoptosis, fibrosis, and involved pathways. Moreover, cavernous smooth muscle cells (CSMC) and endothelial cells (EC) were primarily isolated to build a coculture system for a series of in vitro verification. Results The hKLK1 gene and age-matched wild-type Sprague Dawley rats (WTR) were involved, and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to induce diabetes in rats. Forty-eight-week-old male rats were randomly divided into a WTR group, TGR group, diabetic WTR group (WTDM), diabetic TGR group (TGDM), and TGDM with HOE140 group (TGDMH), with eight rats in each group. Twelve weeks later, the erectile response of all rats was detected by cavernous nerve electric stimulation, and corpus cavernosums were harvested to evaluate the levels of cavernous oxidative stress (OS), apoptosis, fibrosis, and involved pathways. Moreover, cavernous smooth muscle cells (CSMC) and endothelial cells (EC) were primarily isolated to build a coculture system for a series of Conclusions hKLK1 preserves erectile function of DM rats through its antitissue excessive OS, apoptosis, and fibrosis effects, as well as activation of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS/cGMP pathway in the penis. Moreover, hKLK1 promotes relaxation and prevents high glucose-induced injuries of CSMC mediated by EC-CSMC crosstalk.
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16
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Cong R, Tian Y, Chen C, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zhou X, Ji C, Meng X, Song N. Restoration of erectile function by suppression of corporal apoptosis and oxidative stress with losartan in aged rats with erectile dysfunction. Andrology 2020; 8:769-779. [PMID: 31968148 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) increases progressively with age, but its potential pathophysiology has not been fully demonstrated. Hence, this article was aimed to identify the functional and morphological characterization of the corpus cavernosum in aged rats and to evaluate the effects of the Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan on age-related ED (AED). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 40 young and aged Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 per group): young rats as normal controls (YNC) group; aged rats with normal erectile function (ANC) group; aged rats with ED (AED) group; and a losartan-treated AED (AED + Losartan) group. The treated group received losartan (30 mg/kg) once daily oral gavage for 4 weeks. Erectile function was measured by the ratio of peak intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), and relevant tissues were harvested for transmission electron microscopy, Immunohistochemistry, Masson's trichrome staining, TUNEL, caspase-3 activity assay and Western blot. RESULTS The AED group exhibited decreases in erectile response and increases in the role of apoptosis, fibrosis as well as oxidative stress, compared with the control groups. After daily administration of losartan for four weeks, it could slightly restore erectile function and significantly attenuate corporal apoptosis, fibrosis, and oxidative stress of AED. However, the result was still not comparable with that of the control groups. Moreover, the expression levels of p-Bad/Bad and p-AKT/AKT were significantly lower, whereas the expression levels of Bax/Bcl-2, Nrf2/Keap-1, Fibronectin, HO-1, and caspase-3 activity were significantly higher in the AED groups and while losartan could significantly attenuate these changes of AED, it was still not comparable with that of the control groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicated that administration of losartan not merely restored erectile function, but also significantly prevented corporal apoptosis and oxidative stress in AED by suppressing the Akt/Bad/Bax/caspase-3 and Nrf2/Keap-1 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yamin Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Cong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yichun Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qijie Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengjian Ji
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xianghu Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ninghong Song
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Hassanin AM, Abdel-Hamid AZ. Cavernous smooth muscles: innovative potential therapies are promising for an unrevealed clinical diagnosis. Int Urol Nephrol 2019; 52:205-217. [DOI: 10.1007/s11255-019-02309-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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18
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Chen S, Huang X, Kong X, Sun Z, Zhao F, Huang W, Ye M, Ma K, Tao T, Lv B. Hypoxia-Induced Phenotypic Transformation of Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle Cells After Cavernous Nerve Crush Injury by Down-Regulating P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Expression. Sex Med 2019; 7:433-440. [PMID: 31540881 PMCID: PMC6963120 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cavernosal nerve (CN) injury is commonly caused by radical prostatectomy surgery, and it might directly lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). Currently, the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family proteins in phenotypic transformation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell (CCSMC) after CNs injury is poorly understood. AIM To investigate the role of p38 MAPK in hypoxia-induced phenotypic transformation of CCSMCs after CN injury. METHODS In total, 20 Sprague-Dawley rats (male and 8 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 2 groups, including a sham group and CNCI group. In the sham group, rats were sham-operated by identifying 2 CNs without causing direct damage to the CNs. In the CNCI group, rats were subjected to bilateral CN crush injury. CCSMCs were isolated from the normal corpus cavernosum tissues of the Sprague-Dawley rat and then cultured in 21% or 1% O2 concentration context for 48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure were analyzed to measure erectile response. The impact of hypoxia on penile pathology, as well as the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK, were analyzed. RESULTS Compared with the sham group, the intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure rate and α-smooth muscle actin expression of CNCI group were decreased significantly (P = .0001; P = .016, respectively), but vimentin expression was significantly increased (P = .023). Phosphorylated p38 level in CNCI group was decreased significantly (P = .017; sham: 0.17 ± 0.005; CNCI: 0.14 ± 0.02). The CCSMCs in the normoxia group were long fusiform, whereas the morphology of CCSMCs in the hypoxia group became hypertrophic. After hypoxia for 48 hours, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and phosphorylated p38 MAPK was decreased significantly (P = .01; P = .024, normoxia: 0.66 ± 0.18, hypoxia: 0.26 ± 0.08, respectively), and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and collagen I was increased significantly in hypoxia group (P = .04; P = .012, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Hypoxia induced the phenotypic transformation of CCSMCs after CNCI might be associated with the downregulation of phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Chen S, Huang X, Kong X, et al. Hypoxia-Induced Phenotypic Transformation of Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle Cells After Cavernous Nerve Crush Injury by Down-Regulating p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Expression. Sex Med 2019;7:433-440.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixiang Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Andrology Laboratory on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xianghui Kong
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhaohui Sun
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Zhao
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miaoyong Ye
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ke Ma
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Tao
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bodong Lv
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Andrology Laboratory on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Park J, Cho SY, Park K, Chai JS, Son H, Kim SW, Paick JS, Cho MC. Role of inhibiting LIM-kinase2 in improving erectile function through suppression of corporal fibrosis in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury. Asian J Androl 2019. [PMID: 29516877 PMCID: PMC6038164 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_82_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated whether LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor (LIMK2i) could improve erectile function by suppressing corporal fibrosis through the normalization of the Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1 (ROCK1)/LIMK2/Cofilin pathway in a rat model of cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI). Sixty 11-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into five groups: sham surgery (S), CNCI (I), and CNCI treated with low-dose (L), medium-dose (M), and high-dose (H) LIMK2i. The L, M, and H groups were treated with a daily intraperitoneal injection of LIMK2i (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg kg-1 body weight, respectively) for 1 week after surgery. The erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation at 1 week, postoperatively. Penile tissues were processed for Masson's trichrome staining, double immunofluorescence, and Western blot assay. Erectile responses in the H group improved compared with the I group, while the M group showed only partial improvement. A significantly decreased smooth muscle/collagen ratio and an increased content of fibroblasts positive for phospho-LIMK2 were noted in the I group. The M and H groups revealed significant improvements in histological alterations and the dysregulated LIMK2/Cofilin pathway, except for LIMK2 phosphorylation in the M group. The inhibition of LIMK2 did not affect the ROCK1 protein expression. The content of fibroblasts positive for phospho-LIMK2 in the H group returned to the level found in the S group, whereas it did not in the M group. However, the L group did not exhibit such improvements. Our data suggest that the inhibition of LIMK2, particularly with administration of 10.0 mg kg-1 body weight LIMK2i, can improve corporal fibrosis and erectile function by normalizing the LIMK2/Cofilin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhyun Park
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Sung Yong Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Kwanjin Park
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Ji Sun Chai
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Hwancheol Son
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Jae-Seung Paick
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 03080, Korea
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Kim SW, Lee J, Park J, Chai JS, Oh S, Paick JS, Cho MC. Combination of LIM-kinase 2 and Jun Amino-terminal Kinase Inhibitors Improves Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury. Urology 2019; 131:136-143. [PMID: 31202856 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if combined administration of LIMK2 and JNK inhibitors in a rat model of erectile dysfunction induced by cavernosal nerve (CN) injury could restore erectile function by suppressing both cavernosal apoptosis and fibrosis via rectification of molecular pathways related to the structural alterations. METHODS Sixty 12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into 4 groups: (1) Sham-surgery (Sham) group, (2) CN-crush-injury (CNCI), (3) CNCI group (CNCI+L+1.0J) treated with a combination of 10.0 mg/kg LIMK2-inhibitors and low-dose (1.0 mg/kg) JNK-inhibitors, and (4) CNCI group (CNCI+L+10.0J) treated with a combination of 10.0 mg/kg LIMK2-inhibitors and a high dose (10.0 mg/kg) of JNK-inhibitors. Ten days after surgery, erectile response, histological-studies, and Western-blot was investigated. RESULTS The CNCI group showed a reduced maximal ICP/MAP or AUC/MAP, decreased immunohistochemical-staining of α-SMA, decreased SM/collagen ratio, increased phospho-cJun-positive apoptotic cells, increased phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts, increased cJun-phosphorylation, increased LIMK2/Cofilin-phosphorylation, decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and increased protein-expression of fibronectin, compared to the Sham group. Both the CNCI+L+1.0J and CNCI+L+10.0J groups showed improvements in erectile-responses, content of cavernosal α-SMA, number of phospho-cJun-positive apoptotic cells, Bcl-2/Bax ratio and cJun phosphorylation. Their improvements in the CNCI+L+10.0J group showed a tendency to be greater than those in the CNCI+L+1.0J group. Also, in the 2 treatment groups, rectification of SM/collagen ratio, number of phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts, LIMK2/Cofilin-phosphorylation, and protein-expression of fibronectin was observed. CONCLUSION This study suggests that combined inhibition of JNK and LIMK2 may improve erectile function by suppressing cavernosal apoptosis and fibrosis via restoration of cJun/Bcl-2/Bax and LIMK2/Cofilin pathways at 10 days after CN injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghoon Lee
- Department of Urology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhyun Park
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Sun Chai
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohee Oh
- Department of Biostatistics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Seung Paick
- Department of Urology, Mediplex Sejong Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Song WH, Son H, Kim SW, Paick JS, Cho MC. Role of Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) in apoptosis of cavernosal tissue during acute phase after cavernosal nerve injury. Asian J Androl 2019; 20:50-55. [PMID: 28440265 PMCID: PMC5753554 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_10_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify which mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 or Jun amino-terminal kinase [JNK]) was involved in cavernosal apoptosis during the acute phase after cavernosal nerve crush injury (CNCI) in rats to ameliorate apoptosis of cavernosal tissue, such as smooth muscle (SM). A total of twenty 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into two groups: sham surgery (S) and CNCI (I). The I group approximated the clinical situation of men undergoing radical prostatectomy using two 60-second compressions of both CNs with a microsurgical vascular clamp. At 2-week postinjury, erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation. Penile tissues were harvested for immunohistochemistry analysis of alpha-SM actin (α-SMA), western blot analysis, and double immunofluorescence analysis of α-SMA and phosphorylated p38 or JNK, as well as double immunofluorescent of TUNEL and phosphorylated p38 or JNK. At 2-week postinjury, the I group had a significantly lower intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP than the S group. The I group also exhibited decreased immunohistochemical staining of α-SMA, an increase in the number of SM cells positive for phosphorylated JNK, an increased number of apoptotic cells positive for phosphorylated JNK, and increased JNK phosphorylation compared with the S group. However, there was no significant difference in p38 phosphorylation expression or the number of SM cells positive for phosphorylated p38 between the two groups. In conclusion, our data suggest that JNK, not p38, is involved in cavernosal apoptosis during the acute phase after partial CN damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Hoon Song
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Hwancheol Son
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
| | - Soo Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Jae-Seung Paick
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Min Chul Cho
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea
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Xie Y, Lv L, Yao J, Zhang C, Chen H, Chen W, Liang X, Sun X, Deng C, Liu G. Phosphorylated mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein in human seminal plasma: A potential novel biomarker of spermatogenic function. Andrologia 2019; 51:e13310. [PMID: 31095773 DOI: 10.1111/and.13310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xie
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
- Reproductive Centre, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology Guangzhou China
| | - Linyan Lv
- Reproductive Centre, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Institute of Guangdong Province, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Jiahui Yao
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Haicheng Chen
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Wenqiu Chen
- Reproductive Centre, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Xiaoyan Liang
- Reproductive Centre, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Xiangzhou Sun
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Chunhua Deng
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
| | - Guihua Liu
- Reproductive Centre, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China
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Chronic administration of LIMK2 inhibitors alleviates cavernosal veno-occlusive dysfunction through suppression of cavernosal fibrosis in a rat model of erectile dysfunction after cavernosal nerve injury. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213586. [PMID: 30870492 PMCID: PMC6417654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated whether chronic administration of LIMK2-inhibitors could improve erectile function by alleviating CVOD through suppressing cavernosal fibrosis in a rat model of cavernosal nerve crush-injury (CNCI). Forty-two 12-week-old rats were equally categorized into the three groups: sham-surgery (S), CNCI (I), and CNCI treated with LIMK2-inhibitors (L). The L-group was treated with daily intraperitoneal injection of LIMK2-inhibitors (10.0 mg/kg) for 30-days after surgery. Erectile function was assessed using dynamic-infusion-cavernosometry (DIC). Penile tissue was processed for Masson’s-trichrome staining, Western-blotting, and double immunofluorescence. The I-group showed significantly higher maintenance and drop rates as well as lower papaverine response, compared to the S-group. Chronic inhibition of LIMK2 in the L-group significantly improved the DIC parameters compared to those in the I-group, although the parameters were not completely restored to normal control values. Also, the I-group showed a reduced smooth muscle (SM)-to-collagen ratio, decreased immunohistochemical staining for α-SM-actin, increased number of fibroblasts positive for phosphorylated Cofilin, increased LIMK2/Cofilin phosphorylation and increased protein expression of Collagen-1 or Fibronectin, compared to the S-group. The L-group showed significant improvements in SM/collagen ratio and the deposition of Collagen-1 or Fibronectin compared to the I-group, although not completely normalized. According to the densitometry and confocal microscopy results, the L-group showed restoration of LIMK2/Cofilin phosphorylation and amount of fibroblasts positive for phosphorylated Cofilin to the normal control value. In conclusion, chronic inhibition of LIMK2 can improve CVOD and ED by alleviating cavernosal fibrosis via normalizing the LIMK2/Cofilin pathway.
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24
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Chiang PK, Yang FY. A potential treatment of low intensity pulsed ultrasound on cavernous nerve injury for erectile dysfunction. Med Hypotheses 2018; 122:19-21. [PMID: 30593410 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction after nerve injury is a common disease after radical prostatectomy. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family, which plays an important role in the survival of existing neurons, the differentiation of new neurons, and synaptic plasticity. It has been demonstrated that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) accelerates bone healing and axonal regeneration after injury. LIPUS may also be able to stimulate neuronal activity and enhance the levels of neurotrophic factors. Evidence suggests that elevated levels of BDNF in the brain have protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have shown that the treatment on cavernous nerve injury repair, and protective effect plus neuro-regeneration effect by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. They shared the similar mechanism including several trophic factors stimulation, Pl3K/akt pathway activation, and anti-fibrosis mechanism. We hypothesized that due to its combined neuroregenerative and protective effects, the non-invasive and easy-to-use method of LIPUS stimulation could have a therapeutic effect on erectile dysfunction stemming from cavernous nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pai-Kai Chiang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Departments of Urology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Yi Yang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Biophotonics and Molecular Imaging Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Ouyang X, Han X, Chen Z, Fang J, Huang X, Wei H. MSC-derived exosomes ameliorate erectile dysfunction by alleviation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle apoptosis in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:246. [PMID: 30257719 PMCID: PMC6158845 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-1003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study investigated the therapeutic effects of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) on erectile function in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury (CNI). Methods MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow and exosomes were isolated from the supernatants by ultracentrifugation. The tissue explant adherent method was used to isolate and culture corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs). MSCs and CCSMCs were identified by flow cytometry, in vitro differentiation or immunofluorescence staining. Thirty-two 10-week-old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups: a sham operation group and bilateral CNI groups that received intracavernosal (IC) injection of either PBS, MSCs or MSC-Exos. Four weeks after CNI and treatment, the erectile function of the rats was measured by electrically stimulating the cavernous nerve. The penile tissues were harvested for blinded histologic analysis and western blotting. H2O2 was used to induce apoptosis in the CCSMCs, and a flow cytometer was used to measure the cell viability of the CCSMCs treated with or without exosomes in vitro. Results Recovery of erectile function was observed in the MSC-Exos group. The MSC-Exos treatment significantly enhanced smooth muscle content and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the corpus cavernosum. The ratio of smooth muscle to collagen in the corpus cavernosum was significantly improved in the MSC-Exos treatment group compared to the PBS vehicle group. WB confirmed these biological changes. Cell viability of the CCSMCs was increased in the MSC-Exos-treated groups, and caspase-3 expression was decreased after the MSC-Exos treatment in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions Exosomes isolated from MSCs culture supernatants by ultracentrifugation could ameliorate CNI-induced ED in rats by inhibiting apoptosis in CCSMCs, with similar potency to that observed in the MSCs-treated group. Therefore, this cell-free therapy has great potential for application in the treatment of CNI-induced ED for replacing cell therapy. Graphical abstract MSC-derived exosomes ameliorate erectile dysfunction in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Ouyang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xiaoyan Han
- Central Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Zehong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jiafeng Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xuna Huang
- Central Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Hongbo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Tianhe Road 600, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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Pan F, Zhang J, Liu Y, Lu L, Qiu X, Lv K, Zhang Q. Intracavernosal Pressure Recording to Evaluate Erectile Function in Rodents. J Vis Exp 2018:56798. [PMID: 29939168 PMCID: PMC6101512 DOI: 10.3791/56798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to attain or keep an erection of the penis, and this has become a prevalent male sexual disorder. Rodents are employed by many studies to research the physiology/pathology of erectile function. Erectile function in rodents can be evaluated by measuring the intracavernosal pressure (ICP). In practice, ICP can be monitored following electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves (CNs). The arterial pressure of the carotid artery (the mean arterial pressure) is used as the reference for ICP. Using ICP recording protocols, many key parameters of erectile function can be measured from the ICP response curve. The ICP measurement provides more information than the apomorphine-induced penile erection test, and is cheaper than telemetric monitoring of the corpus spongiosum penis, making this method the most popular one to evaluate erectile function. However, compared to the easily-performed APO-induced erectile function test, successful ICP recordings require attention to detail, practice, and adherence to the operation method. In this work, an introduction to ICP recording in rats is provided to complement the procedure efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Pan
- Department of Andrology, The Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University
| | - Yuyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for microRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Nanjing University
| | - Liangsheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for microRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Nanjing University
| | - Xuefeng Qiu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University
| | - Kangtai Lv
- Department of Ultrasound, Nanjing Qixia District Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital;
| | - Qipeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for microRNA Biology and Biotechnology, Nanjing University;
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Park J, Chai JS, Kim SW, Paick JS, Cho MC. Inhibition of Jun N-terminal Kinase Improves Erectile Function by Alleviation of Cavernosal Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury. Urology 2018; 113:253.e9-253.e16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2017.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 11/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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28
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Comparison of two cannulation methods for assessment of intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193543. [PMID: 29486011 PMCID: PMC5828359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement is a well-established technique for assessing the erectile function, which was performed by cannulating either crus or shaft of the penis. However, there are no studies concerning the experimental performance of the two cannulation sites yet. The aim of this study was to compare the measuring outcomes using two different cannulation sites. To validate the capacity of our study, both normal and the castration-induced erectile dysfunction rat models were conducted. Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized equally into two groups: an intact group and a castration group. Five rats from each group firstly underwent different stimulation parameters to detect the optimal erectile responses. The residual rats in each group were further assigned into two subgroups (n = 10 per subgroup) according to two different cannulation sites (crus or shaft of the corpus cavernosum). The ICP values were compared between groups after different interventions. The optimal parameters for mean maximum ICP were recorded at 2.5V and a frequency of 15 Hz. The rats under the two different cannulation sites tended to show similar ICP values in both the intact and the castration groups. However, the success rate in monitoring ICP was significantly higher in the groups cannulating into the shaft of the penis compared to the crus (100% vs. 70%; P = 0.02). Our data suggested that the method of cannulation into the penile shaft could serve as a better alternative for the ICP measurement in rats.
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Liang H, Liao M, Zhao W, Zheng X, Xu F, Wang H, Huang J. CXCL16/ROCK1 signaling pathway exacerbates acute kidney injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 98:347-356. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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Li H, Chen L, Wang T, Wang S, Liu J. The effect of cavernous nerve traction on erectile function in rats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186077. [PMID: 28982169 PMCID: PMC5628916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed this study to evaluate the effect of cavernous nerve (CN) traction on erectile function in rats. Thirty-two 8- week-old Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, 1-minute CN traction, 2-minute CN traction, and 2-minute CN crush. CN traction was performed using a glass hook with a tensile force of 0.2 Newton. One month later, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in response to CN stimulation were measured to assess erectile function. The penis and major pelvic ganglion (MPG) were harvested to explore the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and neurofilament, fibrosis and apoptosis. The ICP/MAP ratio was reduced in the 2-minute CN traction group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The ICP/MAP ratio in the CN crush group was lower than in the other three groups (P < 0.05, for each). Expression of nNOS in both MPG and dorsal penile nerve was lower in the CN traction group than in the control group, but was higher than in the CN crush group (P < 0.05). Nerve fiber number in the dorsal penile nerve was reduced by 2-minute CN traction (P < 0.05). The ratios of collagen to smooth muscle content and the apoptosis were both increased the in 2-minute CN traction group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The findings indicate that CN traction is an effective CN injury model and the injury it caused is relatively mild compared with the CN crush model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liping Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaogang Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jihong Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail:
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Neuroprotective and Nerve Regenerative Approaches for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction after Cavernous Nerve Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081794. [PMID: 28820434 PMCID: PMC5578182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a significant cause of reduced quality of life in men and their partners. Cavernous nerve injury (CNI) during pelvic surgery results in ED in greater than 50% of patients, regardless of additional patient factors. ED related to CNI is difficult to treat and typically poorly responsive to first- and second-line therapeutic options. Recently, a significant amount of research has been devoted to exploring neuroprotective and neuroregenerative approaches to salvage erectile function in patients with CNI. In addition, therapeutic options such as neuregulins, immunophilin ligands, gene therapy, stem cell therapy and novel surgical strategies, have shown benefit in pre-clinical, and limited clinical studies. In the era of personalized medicine, these new therapeutic technologies will be the future of ED treatment and are described in this review.
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Zhang HB, Wang ZQ, Chen FZ, Ding W, Liu WB, Chen ZR, He SH, Wei AY. Maintenance of the contractile phenotype in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells by Myocardin gene therapy ameliorates erectile dysfunction in bilateral cavernous nerve injury rats. Andrology 2017; 5:798-806. [PMID: 28544569 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction post radical prostatectomy is not clearly clarified, and the low efficacy of traditional PDE5i treatment remains a major complaint in contemporary practice. This study aimed to demonstrate phenotypic modulation in bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) rats within 7 days, and subsequently validate gene therapy with Myocardin (Mycod) by maintaining a contractile phenotype in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells. Initially, 36 male rats were randomly divided into BCNI and negative control (NC) groups for histological and phenotypic molecular measurements at 3, 5, and 7 days. Afterwards, an additional 30 rats received a single intra-cavernous injection of 50 μL PBS, Ad-Myocd (1 × 1011 pfu/ml) or Ad-vector for 10 animals each, namely the NC+PBS, BCNI+Ad-Myocd, and BCNI+Ad-vector groups. Finally, the validity and mechanism of Myocd transfection was explored at 21 days in vivo and 48 h in vitro. Western blotting showed canonical declines in Myocd, α-SMA, and Calponin expression, as well as elevated Osteopontin (OPN) expression, before corporeal morphological and SM-to-collagen ratio changes at day 5 after injury. Overexpression of Myocd maintained the contractile phenotype of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells, ameliorated bilateral cavernous nerve injury rat erectile dysfunction, as well as promoted cell contractility and suppressed proliferative capacity. Simultaneously, confocal imaging revealed up-regulation and co-localization of serum response factor in gene-transferred cells. In conclusion, our study is the first to investigate corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells phenotypes in the early stages of cavernous injury model rats, and Myocd reversed phenotypic modulation by activating serum response factor. The experimental results demonstrated the validity of gene therapy for erectile dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- H-B Zhang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Z-Q Wang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - F-Z Chen
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - W Ding
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - W-B Liu
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Z-R Chen
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - S-H He
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - A-Y Wei
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Ding Z, Shen X, Li Y. Association of nNOS and Rho-kinase with age-associated erectile dysfunction in Sprague-Dawley rats. Exp Ther Med 2017; 13:1133-1136. [PMID: 28450953 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the changes of Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in age-associated erectile dysfunction (ED) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A total of 100 intact male SD rats were divided into 20 groups according to their age (5-24 months; rats that were the same age in months were in the same group). Erectile response measurements were performed and the functional index intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) was tested, followed by detection of Rho-kinase and nNOS protein by western blot analysis. Finally, correlation analyses of the association between ICP/MAP and Rho-kinase, nNOS, or nNOS/Rho-kinase, as well as between age and nNOS or Rho-kinase, were performed. The functional index ICP/MAP decreased with age in SD rats. Moreover, the expression of nNOS protein decreased, while Rho-kinase expression increased, indicating that the nNOS/Rho-kinase ratio decreased with age. The Pearson's correlation coefficients for the association between ICP/MAP and Rho-kinase, nNOS and nNOS/Rho-kinase ratio were -0.917, 0.853 and 0.937, respectively (P<0.01). Furthermore, nNOS was found to be significantly negatively correlated with age (r=-0.855; P<0.01), whereas Rho-kinase was positively correlated with age (r=0.943; P<0.01). Age-associated ED was therefore correlated with decreased nNOS and increased Rho-kinase, indicating that the nNOS/Rho-kinase ratio may be used as a candidate indicator of age-associated ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibo Ding
- Department of Urology, The Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China
| | - Xingjie Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China
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An experimental study: evaluating the tissue structure of penis with 2D-ShearWave™ Elastography. Int J Impot Res 2016; 29:12-16. [PMID: 27654034 DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2016.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of two-dimensional-ShearWave™ Elastography (2D-SWE) on evaluating the change of tissue structure of penis. Twenty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into penis-developed group (PDG, 52 weeks) and penis-underdeveloped group (PUDG, 5 weeks). The ultrafast ultrasound device-Aixplorer® (SuperSonic Imagine) was used for 2D-SWE imaging of the penis, the measurement index was shear wave stiffness (SWS, kPa). All rat penises were cut off immediately after ultrasonic examination. After paraffin embedding, slicing and hematoxylin-eosin staining, the tissue structure of the penis was observed under light microscope. SWS of all rat penises were measured successfully. The results showed that SWS of PDG was significantly lower than PUDG (P=0.008). At the same time, the pathological results found that there were significant differences in the tissue structures (sinusoids, smooth muscle cells and fibrocytes) of the penises between the two groups. These results suggest that there are significant differences in SWS between different tissue structures of penis. 2D-SWE is expected to be used on the etiological diagnosis of erectile dysfunction by serving as a new noninvasive method of evaluating the change of tissue structure of penis.
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Shang HS, Wu YN, Liao CH, Chiueh TS, Lin YF, Chiang HS. Long-term administration of ketamine induces erectile dysfunction by decreasing neuronal nitric oxide synthase on cavernous nerve and increasing corporal smooth muscle cell apoptosis in rats. Oncotarget 2016; 8:73670-73683. [PMID: 29088735 PMCID: PMC5650290 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated and evaluated the mechanisms of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model of long-term ketamine administration. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups: namely the control group receiving intraperitoneal injection of saline, 1-month, 2-month and 3-month groups receiving daily intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (100 mg/kg/day) for 1, 2, and 3 month respectively. After treatment, animals underwent an erectile response protocol to assess intracavernosal pressure (ICP). Smooth muscle content was evaluated. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression were assessed using immunostaining assay. Ketamine-induced apoptosis was analyzed using TUNEL assay. Long-term ketamine administration caused significantly decreased erectile responses as measured by ICP. Smooth muscle content was significantly decreased in the ketamine-treated rats for 3 months. In the erectile tissue, ketamine administration significantly reduced nNOS expression and increased iNOS content compared with controls, whereas eNOS expression was not altered. Ketamine induced apoptosis in corpus cavernosum. The present study demonstrates that long-term ketamine administration led to erectile dysfunction in rat. The molecular mechanisms of ketamine-induced ED involved the increased apoptosis and up-regulated iNOS expression incorporating with loss of corporal smooth muscle content and reduced nNOS expression in cavernous nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Sheng Shang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-No Wu
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hou Liao
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzong-Shi Chiueh
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Feng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Sun Chiang
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Wang XJ, Xu TY, Xia LL, Zhong S, Zhang XH, Zhu ZW, Chen DR, Liu Y, Fan Y, Xu C, Zhang MG, Shen ZJ. Castration impairs erectile organ structure and function by inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in rats. Int Urol Nephrol 2015; 47:1105-15. [PMID: 25997594 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-015-1011-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the changes and underlying mechanisms of erectile organ structure and function in castrated rats. In addition, the regulatory effects of an androgen on autophagy and apoptosis in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs), especially the regulatory effect of androgen on the BECN 1-Bcl-2 interaction, were investigated. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (30/group): control group, castration group, and castration with testosterone supplementation group. The erectile function was examined both in vivo and in vitro, by electric stimulation of the cavernous nerve and corpus cavernosum strip bath test, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy, TUNEL assay, Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting were performed to determine the levels of autophagy and apoptosis, and the structural changes in corpus cavernosum. RESULTS Compared with control group, the castration group showed (1) lower erectile function: lower intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure ratio, lower systolic and diastolic capability of corporal strips, and reduced expressions of eNOS and nNOS; (2) greater fibrosis: decreased smooth muscle/collagen ratio, lower expression of α-SMA, and higher expression of TGF-β1; (3) inhibited autophagy: decreased autophagosomes, lower expressions of BECN1 and LC3-II; and (4) enhanced apoptosis: higher apoptotic index and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Testosterone supplementation partially improved the effects of castration. CONCLUSIONS Castration attenuates erectile function and induces corporeal fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy and promoting apoptosis of CCSMCs in rats. Therefore, our study highlights the important role of androgens in maintaining the integrity of the structure and function of corpus cavernosum in rats through counter-regulation of autophagy and apoptosis, mainly by regulating BECN 1-Bcl-2 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Jin Wang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin Er Road, District of Huangpu, Shanghai, 200025, China
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Sadeghi-Nejad H. Restoration of Erectile Dysfunction after Cavernous Nerve Injury. J Urol 2015; 193:1463-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad
- Division of Urology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey
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Andersson KE. This Month in Investigative Urology. J Urol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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