Leech-Centipede Granules Suppress EndMT to Improve Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Diabetes Mellitus via TGF-β/Smad Pathway.
10.1007/s11655-022-3728-z
- Author:
Hui ZHANG
1
;
Chu-Hui FENG
2
;
Shan HE
3
;
Ming-Xia DENG
3
;
Hao MENG
1
;
Ming CHEN
1
;
Hong LIU
4
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
2. Department of Urology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
3. The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
4. Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510000, China. Leehomliu@vip.qq.com.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Leech-Centipede Granules;
diabetes mellitus;
endothelial cell;
endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition;
erectile function;
tumor growth factor-beta/Smad pathway
- From:
Chinese journal of integrative medicine
2023;29(1):28-36
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether Leech-Centipede (LC) Granules can improve erectile function in rats with diabetes mellitus-associated erectile dysfunction (DMED) through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) inhibition.
METHODS:Components of LC Granules were identified via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin and fed continuously for 8 weeks to establish the DMED rat model. Rats with erectile dysfunction symptoms diagnosed using apomorphine were divided into DMED and low-, medium-, and high-doses LC groups (n=6 in each). The negative control (NC, n=6) and DMED groups were given 5 mL of deionized water via intragastric gavage, and the low-, medium- and the high-doses LC groups were administered LC at 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 g/kg, respectively, via intragastric gavage for 4 weeks. The intracavernous pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in cavernous tissue were measured for each group. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of endothelial and mesenchymal markers. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe α-SMA, and Masson's trichrome staining was performed to determine the myofiber/collagen ratio.
RESULTS:A total of 474 active components were identified. After treatment, the ICP/MAP value and NO level were significantly higher in the medium- and high-dose LC groups than in the DMED group (P<0.05). Compared with the DMED groups, the medium- and high-dose groups LC significantly increased and decreased endothelial and mesenchymal markers expression, respectively (P<0.05). Tumor growth factor (TGF)β R II, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 levels were considerably higher following diabetes onset but reduced following LC intervention (P<0.05), except for TGF β 1 (P>0.05). α-SMA expression was significantly higher in the DMED group and was reduced in all LC intervention groups (P>0.05). The myofiber/collagen ratio in the LC groups was higher than that in the DMED group but lower than that in the NC group (all P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:LC Granules may improve the erectile function of DMED rats by suppressing TGF-β/Smad pathway to reverse EndMT.
