title: Reduced expression of myocardin and serum response factor in the cavernous tissue of diabetic rats.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the expression of myocardin and serum response factor (SRF) in the cavernous tissue of diabetic rats. The experimental diabetes model was induced in 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-220 g) by a single administration of streptozotocin. Both the diabetes mellitus group (DM group, n = 20) and the control group (NDM group, n = 10) were injected with a low dose of apomorphine to allow for the measurement and comparison of the corresponding penile erections. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of myocardin and SRF. Erectile function was significantly decreased in the DM group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The mRNA and protein expression levels of myocardin and SRF were reduced in the cavernous tissue of diabetic rats compared with the control group (P < 0.001). It is concluded that diabetes inhibits the mRNA and protein expression of both myocardin and SRF in the cavernous tissue. This could play a key role in the development of erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical Center for Overseas Patients, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: A-Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y-W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: X-G
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017931:DNA Primers; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010410:Penile Erection; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099251:Myocardin
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000099251:Myocardin