Restoring Erectile Function by Antioxidant Therapy in Diabetic Rats

Purpose: Diabetes mediates an increase in reactive oxygen species that can lead to impaired endothelial function, decreased smooth muscle in the diabetic corpus cavernosum and increased apoptosis. We hypothesized that antioxidant therapy may restore erectile function by inhibiting apoptosis in diabetic rat crura.Materials and Methods: A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to 5 groups of 8 each, including healthy controls, rats with diabetes, and rats with diabetes with the antioxidant tempol (4-hydroxytetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl) (Sigma-Aldrich®), with insulin, and with tempol and insulin. Intracavernous pressure was measured for functional analysis. Smooth muscle and collagen fiber levels in the rat penile corpus cavernosum were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson's trichrome staining. Endothelial cells were assessed by CD31 staining. Reactive oxygen species related genes were analyzed by cDNA microarray. We confirmed mRNA and protein expression profiles for these genes in di...