Proteomic analysis of rat penile tissue in a model of erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify differential protein expression in penile tissue in a rat model of erectile dysfunction (ED) at an early stage after bilateral cavernosal nerve (CN) neurectomy, using proteomic techniques.


METHODS
Twelve male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two equal groups, one having bilateral CN resection and one a control group. The penises were harvested 7 days after CN resection. Total protein was separated into >1250 protein spots by two-dimensional electrophoresis using pH 3-10 nonlinear immobilized pH gradient strips. Differential expression of proteins was analysed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and database searching.


RESULTS
Thirty-two proteins were significantly changed in the denervated penis, of which 25 (including nine up-regulated and 16 down-regulated) with cytoskeletal functions, and pathophysiological functions related to energy metabolism and oxidative stress, were identified. Examples include transgelin, creatine kinase B, annexin-1 and galactin-7.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of several important proteins participating in pathophysiological processes of penile tissue are changed early after bilateral CN neurectomy. These changes might give new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in neurogenic ED development, and indicate potential therapeutic targets.
Liu
Xiaopeng
X
Department of Urology of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Gao
Xin
X
Pang
Jun
J
Zhang
Yan
Y
Wang
Kebing
K
Fang
Youqiang
Y
Wen
Xinqiao
X
Cai
Yubin
Y
D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D011506:Proteins