Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor incorporating gelatin microspheres on erectile function in the diabetic rat.
OBJECTIVE
We report the potential of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) incorporating gelatin microspheres to preserve erectile function in a diabetic rat model.


METHODS
A total of 48 adult male rats were divided into 3 groups, namely control (nondiabetic rats), diabetes mellitus (DM) (diabetic rats that received gelatin microspheres with saline) and bFGF (diabetic rats that received gelatin microspheres with bFGF). After 4 and 8 weeks we examined intracavernous pressure responses with electrical stimulation to the cavernous nerve. For histological examination of the penis we performed Azan-Mallory staining for smooth muscle and collagen, and immunohistochemistry for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in endothelium and neuronal NOS in cavernous nerve fiber.


RESULTS
Although the intracavernous pressure response was significantly lower in the DM group than in the control group, pressure in the bFGF group was maintained at the normal level found in controls. Azan-Mallory staining showed a mass decrease in smooth muscle in cavernous tissue in the DM group. However, that in the bFGF group was maintained. There was no significant difference in endothelial NOS positive areas and the distribution of the diameter of neuronal NOS positive nerve fibers in cavernous tissue among the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We report the maintenance of erectile function with bFGF incorporating gelatin microspheres in diabetic rats. The rationale of this maneuver is smooth muscle preservation by the long-term release of bFGF. This is a novel therapeutic option that is clinically applicable for diabetes induced erectile dysfunction.
Suetomi
Takahiro
T
Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Hisasue
Shin-Ichi
S
Sato
Yoshikazu
Y
Tabata
Yasuhiko
Y
Akaza
Hideyuki
H
Tsukamoto
Taiji
T
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005780:Gelatin; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D010919:Placebos; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin
D010919:Placebos; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D013311:Streptozocin; D005780:Gelatin; D003094:Collagen; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat