OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of cell apoptosis and proliferation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) cells in diabetic rats.

METHODSFrom a SD rat model of diabetes induced by a single dose of streptozotocin, CCSM cells were isolated for primary culture and identified using immunocytochemical assays for SMα-actin. The proliferation of CCSM cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay, and flow cytometry was used to detect the cells apoptosis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the relative expression of proliferation cell nucleus antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 mRNA.

RESULTSThe proliferation rate of the primarily cultured CCSM cells from diabetic rats was significantly decreased and the apoptosis rate significantly increased compared with those of the cells from the control rats. The expression of PCNA mRNA was significantly lowered while caspase-3 mRNA significantly increased in the corpus cavernosum of the diabetic rats (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIn rats with persisted hyperglycemia, a higher apoptosis rate and a lower proliferation rate both contribute to the reduction of CCSM cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; pathology ; Penis ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Primary Cell Culture ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley