Apoptosis in the erectile tissues of diabetic and healthy rats

Abstract

Objective To compare the frequency of apoptosis in the erectile tissue of chronic diabetic and healthy rats. Materials and methods Fourteen chronic diabetic and 10 healthy Sprague±Dawley rats were killed, their penises harvested and stored at ±70uC until staining and¯ow cytometric analysis for apoptosis. A cell suspension was obtained from the penile tissue by scraping the inside of the cavernosum with a scalpel and ®ltering through a mesh. Samples of the cell suspension (0.5r10 6 cells) were stained with Annexin V (an indicator of apoptosis) and propidium iodide (PI, which stains dead cells), incubated for 15 min at room temperature and analysed by¯ow cytometry. The DNA content was also analysed in each sample.Results In normal erectile tissue, a mean of 6.2% of cells were stained with Annexin V, while only 2.7% were stained with PI; DNA content analyses showed 7.5% were hypodiploid cells. In diabetic rats 19.5% of cells were stained with Annexin V and 5.2% with PI; 22.9% of cells were hypodiploid. Conclusion The ratio of apoptotic cells in the erectile tissues of diabetic rats was signi®cantly greater than in normal rats. The high rate of apoptosis in diabetic rats may play a role in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction.

Therapeutic effect of combination of alagebrium (ALT-711) and sildenafil on erectile function in diabetic rats

“…Finally, in accordance with previously reported studies, we observed also that although apoptosis was increased in diabetic cavernosal penises, both sildenafil and sildenafil þ ALT-711 treatments prevent the apoptotic effect of diabetes in cavernosal tissue. 24,25 In our study, 5-HMF and MDA were indicators for penile tissue AGEs and oxidative stress, respectively. Both parameters were increased in diabetic penile tissue, whereas they were both decreased after sildenafil þ ALT-711 treatment.…”

Protective effects of paeonol on cardiovascular complications in diabetes mellitus involves modulation of PI3K /Akt-GSK-3β signalling, regulation of protease-activated receptor-1 expressions and down-regulation of inflammatory mediators

“…Earlier reports have demonstrated myocardial apoptosis in diabetic patients (Frustaci et al, 2000) as well in diabetic animal models (Kajstura et al, 2001;Cai et al, 2002). Furthermore, apoptosis associated with raised level of oxidative stress in multiple organ systems in diabetes mellitus has been well documented (Alici et al, 2000;Cai et al, 2000). Thus, striking suppression of ROS levels could have attributed to the decrease in the apoptotic counts suggests the protective effect of paeonol on cardiac tissue.…”

Testosterone and chronic sildenafil/tadalafil anti-apoptotic role in aged diabetic rats

“…Different researchers showed increased endothelial apoptotic cell density in diabetic erectile tissue. [21][22][23] Diabetes has known pathological effects on peripheral tissue innervations and vascularization, both of which are important for the erectile function. 24 In addition, it causes oxidative stress, which has a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes-associated ED acting on blood vessel endothelia, peripheral nerves and smooth muscles and inducing cell apoptosis.…”