title: Functional, metabolic, and morphologic characteristics of a novel rat model of type 2 diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a pilot study to investigate functional, metabolic, and penile morphologic changes in a novel model of lean DM2. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent sequela in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rats received a high-fat diet and 2 weeks later, 2 intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg). Five age-matched rats served as controls. Insulin challenge tests were performed at 6 and 12 weeks after induction of DM2. At 12 weeks, erectile function was tested by measurement of intracavernous pressure (ICP) increase upon cavernous nerve stimulation. Penile tissue and serum samples were harvested for histology and biochemistry, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A lean DM2 model was established as demonstrated by decreased insulin resistance, elevated nonfasting plasma glucose levels, hyperlipidemia, and decreased insulin concentration in the absence of obesity. ICP/mean arterial pressure was significantly decreased in DM2 animals (0.29) compared with controls (0.81). Expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and rat endothelial cell antigen-1, and the smooth muscle/collagen ratio were significantly decreased in the penis of DM2 animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose an inexpensive nongenetic animal model of lean DM2-associated ED. Microanatomical changes in the erectile tissue that reflect an advanced stage of the disease were observed.
authors.affiliation: Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. maarten.albersen@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albersen
authors.forename: Guiting
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fandel
authors.forename: Haiyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Ching-Shwun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tom F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley