Microarray screening of angiogenic gene alterations in diabetic cavernosal tissue

Summary Diabetes is an important vascular risk factor associated with the development and progression of erectile dysfunction (ED). Loss of erectile function in the diabetic individual is thought to involve alterations in the functionality of vascular endothelial cells lining the penile vasculature. However, the exact mechanisms impairing endothelial function in diabetic corpus cavernosum (CC) leading to ED have not been fully elucidated. We aim to investigate alterations in the expression of angiogenic genes in cavernosal tissue of an experimental model of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), which can be potentially involved in diabetic vasculopathy and erectile insufficiency. To achieve this, we have used a microarray analysis, which allowed us to evaluate the expression of a full range of angiogenic-related genes in diabetic rats CC, which were compared to age-matched healthy controls. Preliminary results suggested a downregulation in the expression of several genes in diabetic cavernosal tissue. The identified genes are involved in the regulation of intracellular cascades, G-protein signaling, response to oxidative stress, and directly related to the angiogenic process. This microarray analysis provided evidence of the deregulation of specific angiogenic molecules and pathways in diabetic CC, which might impair endothelial integrity and proper erectile function.