title: Pioglitazone Enhances Survival and Regeneration of Pelvic Ganglion Neurons After Cavernosal Nerve Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on pelvic ganglion neurons in a rat model of bilateral cavernosal nerve crush injury (BCNI), thereby elucidating the actions of pioglitazone in preventing post-prostatectomy neurogenic erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 weeks were divided into four groups: (a) sham procedure, (b) BCNI, (c) BCNI + postsurgical pioglitazone, and (d) BCNI + pre and postsurgical pioglitazone (preventive therapy). Preoperative injection of Fluoro-Gold (FG) fluorescent tracer into the cavernosal tissue was performed for retrograde labeling of pelvic ganglion cells. Pelvic ganglia were resected at 2 weeks in all rats and processed for real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot to examine the expression of FG, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, β-III tubulin, neurturin, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-2 (GFRα2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals treated with pre- and postsurgical pioglitazone demonstrated increased staining for FG similar to sham levels. Gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, neurturin, GFRα2, and β-III tubulin was also upregulated in the group receiving preventive therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pioglitazone provides a protective effect on pelvic ganglion neurons after BCNI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Eric G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heidenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peak
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Lasker
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoedler
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rittenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Southern University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Bashir M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rezk
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Zakaria Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Abd Elmageed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Faysal A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Yafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sikka
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Asim B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Abdel-Mageed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. Electronic address: whellst@tulane.edu.
authors.forename: Wayne J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hellstrom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D010388:Pelvis / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077205:Pioglitazone