title: Short hairpin ribonucleic acid constructs targeting insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 rehabilitated decreased testosterone concentrations in diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine if shRNA constructs targeting insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 can rehabilitate decreased serum testosterone concentrations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  After 12 weeks of intracavernous administration of IGFBP-3 shRNA, intracavernous pressure responses to electrical stimulation of cavernous nerves were evaluated. The expression of IGFBP-3 at mRNA and protein levels was detected by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and Western blot, respectively. The concentrations of serum testosterone and cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks of intracavernous administration of IGFBP-3 shRNA, the cavernosal pressure was significantly increased in response to the cavernous nerves stimulation compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.01). Cavernous IGFBP-3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly inhibited. Both serum testosterone and cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations were significantly increased in the IGFBP-3 shRNA treatment group compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that IGFBP-3 shRNA may rehabilitate erectile function via increases of concentrations of serum testosterone and cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhang-Yan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Bi-Wen
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Chang-Mao
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Najeeb
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bsoul
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Cun-Jian
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guang-Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008777:Methyltestosterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013739:Testosterone; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D008777:Methyltestosterone