Pathobiology of ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles in long-term diabetic male rats and its implication on erectile dysfunction

Sucrose consumption modifies the urethrogenital reflex and histological organization of the bulbospongiosus muscle in the male rat

Disorders of the bulbospongiosus muscle (Bsm) are associated with male sexual dysfunction, such as premature ejaculation. We determined the effect of sucrose-water consumption during pregnancy-lactation and postnatal on reflex responses and morphology of Bsm fibers in adult male Wistar rat offspring. Female rats were mated and grouped into consumed tap water mothers and sucrose-water (5 %) mothers during pregnancy-lactation to obtain experimental groups. Male pups were weaned and assigned into four groups (n = 12; each group). Those from control mothers who continued drinking tap water (CM-CO group) or sucrose water (CM-SO group), and those from sucrose mothers who drank tap water (SM-CO group) or continued drinking sucrose water (SM-SO group) until adult life. In male rat offspring (n = 6 per group) was recorded the electrical activity of Bsm was recorded during penile stimulation and urethrogenital reflex (UGR). Other male rat offspring were designated for histological analysis (n = 6 per group). Sucrose consumption during prenatal stages increased the frequency of the Bsm during UGR, while pre and postnatal consumption modified muscle fiber cross-sectional area and increased the collagen content, suggesting that a combination of a diet with pre- and postnatal sucrose changes the Bsm morphophysiology possibly causing male sexual dysfunctions.

Aging induced testicular damage: analyzing the ameliorative potential of Mucuna pruriens seed extract

Mucuna pruriens Linn. (M. pruriens), a leguminous plant, was used extensively in Ayurveda, to treat male-related infertility. Previous studies have demonstrated antioxidant, androgenic, aphrodisiac, and spermatogenic properties of M. pruriens seed extract. Surprisingly, the biological activities of M. pruriens on aging-induced pathological changes in the testis microenvironment have never been explored and the present study was focused on the testing therapeutic efficacy of M. pruriens on aged rat testis. Male Wistar albino rats were grouped as; adult (3 months), aged (24 months), aged + M. pruriens and adult + M. pruriens (N = 6/group). The extract was administrated at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight (dosage determined in our previous study) daily by gavage for 60 days. The total and free testosterone, FSH and LH levels were considerably increased in aged + M. pruriens. The diameter & volume of the seminiferous tubules, the height & volume of the epithelium, and the number of Leydig cells number were significantly decreased in aged rat testis, concomitantly connective tissue proportion was increased compared to adult rats. The seminiferous epithelium indicates significant rejuvenation or restoration of spermatogenic cells in aged + M. pruriens rat testis. The highlighting observations in aged + M. pruriens was increased in the following parameters i.e., tubular diameter (25%), number of tubules (35%), epithelial height (25%) & volume (20%), and number of Leydig cells (35%) when compared to untreated aged rat testis. The TNFα, NF-κB, cytochrome c, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, PARP iNOS, and inflammatory and apoptotic factors were downregulated in aged + M. pruriens. M. pruriens was able to restore spermatogenesis and enhance the activity of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells and improve the pituitary-gonadal axis in aged rat testis and observations indicate the therapeutic activity of M. pruriens in aged rat testis.

High-sucrose diet-fed male rats show affectations in pubococcygeus reflex activation and myofiber content

In males, the function of the pubococcygeus muscle (Pcm) shows a high androgen dependency. High sucrose intake increases testosterone levels in pubertal male rats. We aimed to analyze the Pcm reflex activity and fiber type in response to a 30 % sucrose diet. Wistar male rats were assigned into two groups: control and sugar. The Pcm electromyographic activity was recorded during the mechanical stimulation of the scrotal skin and penis. We also determined the relative levels of Glut4 expression, glycogen content, myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), and the content of glycolytic and oxidative with NADH-TR or fast, intermediate, and slow fibers with alkaline (pH 9.4) ATPase histochemistry. The sugar group showed a short Pcm reflex activity, a higher Glut4 expression, and glycogen content; the CSA fibers showed a significant difference in the percentage of fibers with the different transversal areas. The number of nuclei was positively correlated with the CSA of the Pcm fibers. There was also a decrease in oxidative fibers but an increase in glycolytic fibers, while the content of fast muscle fibers increased to the detriment of intermediate and slow fibers. Thus, a high-sugar diet reduced Pcm reflex activity, fiber type, and dysregulation of skeletal muscle energy metabolism.

Effects of unilateral/bilateral amputation of the ischiocavernosus muscle in male rats on erectile function and conception

Background

The ischiocavernosus muscle (ICM) encompasses a pair of short pinnate muscles attached to the pelvic ring. The ICM begins at the ischial tuberosity and ends at the crus of the penis while covering the surface of the crus. According to the traditional view, the contraction of the ICM plays an auxiliary role in penile erection. However, we have previously shown that the ICM plays an important role in penile erection through an indirect method of diagnosing erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by ICM injury by observing the infertility of paired female rats. Since intracavernosal pressure (ICP) is the current gold standard for diagnosing ED, this study aimed to amputate unilaterally/bilaterally the ICM to establish an ED model by detecting the ICP, recording the infertility of matching female rats, and comparing the two methods.

Results

Forty sexually mature adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into the following groups: the control group (n = 10), sham operation group (n = 10), unilateral ischiocavernosus muscle (Uni-ICM) amputation group (n = 10), and bilateral ischiocavernosus muscle (Bi-ICM) amputation group (n = 10). Eighty female reproductive rats were randomly assigned to the above groups at a ratio of 2:1. We evaluated the time to conception for the paired female rats and the effects of unilateral/bilateral severing of the ICM on erectile function. The results showed that the baseline and maximum intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in the control group, sham operation group, Uni-ICM amputation group, and Bi-ICM amputation group were 17.44±2.50 mmHg and 93.51±10.78 mmHg, 17.81±2.81 mmHg and 95.07±10.40 mmHg, 16.73±2.11 mmHg and 83.49±12.38 mmHg, and 14.78±2.78 mmHg and 33.57±6.72 mmHg, respectively, immediately postsurgery. The max ICP in the Bi-ICM amputation group was lower than that in the remaining three groups (all P<0.05). The pregnancy rates were 100, 100, 90, and 0% in the control group, sham operation group, Uni-ICM amputation group, and the Bi-ICM amputation group, respectively. The pregnancy rate in the Bi-ICM amputation group was significantly lower than that in the remaining groups (all P<0.05). The time to conception was approximately 7–10 days later in the Uni-ICM amputation group than in the control and sham groups (all P<0.05).

Conclusions

Male rats undergoing Bi-ICM amputation may develop permanent ED, which affects their fertility. In contrast, rats undergoing Uni-ICM amputation may experience transient ED.

The Efficacy of Li-ESWT Combined With VED in Diabetic ED Patients Unresponsive to PDE5is: A Single-Center, Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Phosphodiesterase type 5-inhibitors (PDE5is) are the first-line treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED), however, some patients are non-responser to PDE5is. We performed a perspective, randomized, comparative study to explore the efficacy of low intensity extracorporeal shock wave treatment (Li-ESWT) combined with vacuum erectile device (VED) in the treatment of DMED patients who were unresponsive to PDE5is.

METHODS

One hundred and five eligible patients were randomly divided into three groups: group A (VED), group B (Li-ESWT) and group C (VED plus Li-ESWT). Follow-up was conducted at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after the end of treatment. The erectile function was estimated by the international index of erectile function-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF), erection hardness score (EHS), sexual encounter profile questions 2 and 3 (SEP2 and SEP3) and global assessment question 1 and 2 (GAQ1 and GAQ2) before and after treatment. The changes of five points in IIEF-EF were calculated as the minimal clinical important difference (MCID), which was considered as the main index of efficacy.

RESULTS

The MCID was achieved in 14.7%, 14.7% and 17.6% patients in group A at the follow up on 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively (36.4%, 39.4% and 36.4% in group B; 36.4%, 51.5%, and 66.7% in group C). There were significant differences in the percentage of MCID cases between group A and group C at the follow up on 12 weeks (P<0.001), as well as that between group B and group C (P=0.014). Additionally, comparison in MCID within group C showed that there were significant differences between 4 weeks and 12 weeks follow-up (P=0.014).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated the combined therapy Li-ESWT and VED was more beneficial to shift turn PDE5is non-responders to responders for moderate patients with DMED than VED or Li-ESWT monotherapy. Moreover, this study provided evidence that patients with DMED who failed after taking oral PDE5is could attempt to opt for an alternative physicotherapy (Li-ESWT or VED) prior to more invasive alternatives.

Apoptosis in hippocampal tissue induced by oxidative stress in testosterone deprived male rats

The testosterone decline is one of the potential causes of oxidative stress-induced anxiety and depressive behaviors, and cognitive impairment induces irreversible neuronal damage, which is not clearly understood. The orchidectomized rat model was used; the hippocampal neurons and anxiety behavior were analyzed. Adult male albino rats were divided into control and orchidectomy (ORX) groups, orchidectomy (ORX + T), and normal (Cont + T) groups. Testosterone propionate was used as a testosterone supplement. The anxiety and depressive-like behavior observed in ORX animals in the open field (OF) and elevated plus-maze experiments were effectively overturned in the ORX + T group. Studies on isolated hippocampus showed reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and glutathione (GSH) compounds), increased lipid peroxidation (LPO), elevated caspase3, and reduced anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased apoptotic nuclei in TUNEL staining of the hippocampus in the ORX rats. These observations indicate free radical-mediated neural damage. Testosterone presence promoted the antioxidant defense system and restored normal pyramidal neuron morphology in ORX + T. This study confirms that testosterone is indispensable in the normal adult hippocampus and deficiency seems to be a potential risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders. Besides, androgen appears to be a possible therapeutic strategy for treating depression/neurodegenerative diseases in aging men.