title: Effect of pregabalin on erectile function and penile NOS expression in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of pregabalin on erectile function and on the penile expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in diabetic rat models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes mellitus. The rats with blood glucose levels above 300 mg/dL were selected for the study. Those were randomly divided into 2 groups (N=10 per group): i) EDDM (erectile dysfunction diabetes mellitus) group fed with saline and ii) EDDM+Pregabalin treated group receiving pregabalin (10 mg/k/day) by intragastric administration. 10 animals served as a control group and received no streptozotocin. 4 weeks later, the erectile function of the rats was assessed by recording frequency of erection after subcutaneous apomorphine (80 ug/kg) injection. Superoxide anion generation and the expression of mRNA of nNOS and eNOS were evaluated in corpora cavernosum tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Penile erection, the expression of both nNOS, eNOS and superoxide generation were significantly decreased in pregabalin treated group compared to control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with pregabalin for 4 weeks decreases superoxide production but cannot improve erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats probably by inhibiting Ca(2)(+) channel-mediated NOS activation.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Clinical pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura-University, Egypt. m_h_s_amany@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amany
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D010413:Penis / Q000201:enzymology*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013481:Superoxides; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III