Korean J Androl.  2005 Dec;23(3):144-152.

Penile Expression of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1alpha, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Type II Diabetic Rat

• Park HJ
• Park BK
• Park NC

Abstract

PURPOSE
Erectile dysfunction(ED) is commonly experienced in men with diabetes mellitus. Hypoxia in the penile tissue by vascular complications is regarded as a pathophysiologic factor in diabetic ED. The aim of this study is to investigate whether HIF-1alpha is altered in diabetic penile tissues and whether its alteration may modulate penile expression of VEGF and NOS, which are believed to play a role in diabeteic ED.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
OLETF rats, an animal model for type II diabetes mellitus, and LETO rats, a non-diabetic control group, were used. We analyzed the distribution of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and NOS(eNOS and iNOS) in the isolated corupus cavernosum of both LETO and OLETF rats by immunohistochemicalstaining. The mRNA expression levels of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, eNOS, and iNOS were also analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).
RESULTS
There was no difference in the concentration of nitrite/nitrate in cavernosal homogenate between LETO rats and OLETF rats. By immunohistochemical staining. HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and iNOS were expressed more abundantly in stain in OLETF rats. By RT-PCR analysis, HIF-1alpha mRNA, VEGF mRNA and iNOS mRNA expression levels were higher in the OLETF rats compared to LETO rats.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that increased HIF-1alpha, VEGF and iNOS expressions in OLETF rat may be associated with microvascular injury in corpus cavernosum. Such microvascular injury is proposed to be associated with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

Keyword

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1; Vascular endothelial growth factors; Nitric-oxide synthase; Diabetes mellitus; Penis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anoxia
Diabetes Mellitus
Erectile Dysfunction
Humans
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
Male
Models, Animal
Nitric Oxide Synthase*
Nitric Oxide*
Penis
Rats*
Rats, Inbred OLETF
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors