Effects of Lumbricus Protein on Phenotypic Transformation of Corporal Cavernous Smooth Muscle Cells and Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction
10.19378/j.issn.1003-9783.2024.03.003
- VernacularTitle:地龙蛋白对糖尿病性勃起功能障碍大鼠阴茎海绵体平滑肌细胞表型转化及其勃起功能的影响
- Author:
Xiaowei JI
1
;
Aiping ZHANG
;
Liming LIU
;
Jiashu YANG
;
Xiping XING
Author Information
1. 甘肃中医药大学,甘肃 兰州 730000
- Keywords:
Lumbricus protein;
diabetic erectile dysfunction(DMED);
corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells(CCSMC);
phenotypic transformation;
rats
- From:
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology
2024;35(3):325-333
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the effect of Lumbricus protein on the phenotypic transformation of corporal cavernosum smooth muscle cells(CCSMC)and erectile function in diabetic erectile dysfunction(DMED)rats.Methods Sixty male SD rats with normal erectile function were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Sildelafil group(5 mg·kg-1),and a Lumbricus protein low-,medium-,and high-dose group(45,90,and 180 mg·kg-1),with 10 rats in each group.The diabetic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin(STZ,50 mg·kg-1)combined with high-fat feed feeding;after 8 weeks,the DMED rat model was prepared by neck injection of Apomorphine(APO,100 μg·kg-1).After successful modeling,the rats were administered with a dose of Apomorphine by gavage once a day for 4 weeks.The blood glucose levels and body mass of rats in each group were measured before modeling,on the third day of modeling,and after 4 weeks of drug administration.The intracavernous pressure(ICP)and carotid artery pressure(MAP)were measured by multi-channel physiological recorder,and the ICP/MAP ratio was calculated.The expressions of contractile markers α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),smooth muscle myosin heavy chain(SMMHC)and synthetic markers Collagen I and osteopontin(OPN)in corpus cavernosum were detected by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA,SMMHC and Collagen I in corpus cavernosum were detected by RT-PCR.The protein expression levels of α-SMA,Desmin,Collagen I and OPN in corpus cavernosum were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the blood glucose levels of the rats in the model group were significantly increased on the third day of modeling and after 4 weeks of administration(P<0.01),and the body mass was significantly decreased after 4 weeks of administration(P<0.01).ICP and ICP/MAP ratio were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The protein expression levels of α-SMA,SMMHC and Desmin in penile corpus cavernosum were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the protein expression levels of Collagen I and OPN were significantly increased(P<0.01).The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and SMMHC in corpus cavernosum were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the mRNA expression level of Collagen I was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,there was no significant change in blood glucose and body mass of rats in the administration group(P>0.05).ICP and ICP/MAP ratio were significantly increased(P<0.01).The expression levels of α-SMA,SMMHC and Desmin in corpus cavernosum were significantly increased(P<0.01),while the expression levels of Collagen I and OPN were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and SMMHC in corpus cavernosum were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the mRNA expression level of Collagen I was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Lumbricus protein can improve the erectile function of DMED rats,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of CCSMC from'contractile'to'synthetic(proliferative)'transformation.