Reduced vasoreactivity in corpus cavernosum of the akita mouse.

ABSTRACT: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor of erectile dysfunction (ED). We sought to investigate the nature and mechanism of the vasoreactivity in Akita (Ins2 [WT/C96Y]) mice, a model of genetic nonobese Type 1 diabetes that recapitulates human Type 1 diabetes. Eight wild-type (WT) mice (group 1) and 8 Akita mice (group 2) were used for this study. Corporal tissues were harvested and studied for endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasoreactivities by isometric tension study; levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were studied with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasoreactivities, cGMP, and VEGF were significantly decreased in the corporal tissues of Akita mice. Corporal tissues from Akita mice demonstrate many of the major functional and biochemical changes found in humans with ED. This model could serve as a valuable tool for advancing our understanding of the role DM plays in the pathogenesis of ED.