Expression changes of transforming growth factor-beta1 and thrombospondin-1 in cavernous tissues of diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To assess transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expression in the cavernous tissue of rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.


METHODS
Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: diabetics and controls. We injected STZ intraperitoneally to induce diabetes, and studied the alterations in TGF-beta1 and TSP-1 expression in the cavernous tissue of the 2 groups by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. HE staining was also applied to determine morphological changes. Weight, blood sugar and urine sugar were measured before and after model induction in both groups.


RESULTS
Expression of TGF-beta1 and TSP-1 increased significantly in the cavernous tissue of the diabetic rats compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta1 and TSP-1 expression changes in cavernous tissues may play an important role in diabetic erectile dysfunction.
Zhang
Xiao-Ming
XM
Department of Orthopedics, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, China. zxm @ zju.edu.cn
Shi
Pei-Hua
PH
Cao
Sai-Hong
SH
Yu
He-Jun
HJ
Azad
Junaid
J
Ling
Shu-Cai
SC
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1