title: Improvement in erectile dysfunction after insulin-like growth factor-1 gene therapy in diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether adenoviral gene transfer of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to the penis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats could improve erectile capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  THE STZ diabetic rats were transfected with AdCMV-betagal or AdCMV-IGF-1. These rats underwent cavernous nerve stimulation to assess erectile function and their responses were compared with those of age-matched control rats 1 to 2 days after transfection. In control and transfected STZ diabetic rats, IGF-1 expression were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and histology. The penis beta-galactosidase activity and localization of the STZ diabetic rats were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One to two days after transfection, the beta-galactosidase was found in the smooth muscle cells of the diabetic rat penis transfected with AdCMV-betagal. One to 2 days after administration of AdCMV-IGF-1, the cavernosal pressure, as determined by the ratio of maximal intracavernous pressure-to-mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) and total intracavernous pressure (ICP), was increased in response to cavernous nerve stimulation. Transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blot and histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gene transfer of IGF-1 significantly increased erectile function in the STZ diabetic rats. These results suggest that in vivo gene transfer of IGF-1 might be a new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the STZ diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Li-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Huai-Peng
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yao-Xiong
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xing-Huan
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D001616:beta-Galactosidase