title: Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Atherosclerosis-induced Chronic Pelvic Ischemia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the omega-3 fatty acids help to improve erectile function in an atherosclerosis-induced erectile dysfunction rat model. A total of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats at age 8 weeks were divided into three groups: Control group (n = 6, untreated sham operated rats), Pathologic group (n = 7, untreated rats with chronic pelvic ischemia [CPI]), and Treatment group (n = 7, CPI rats treated with omega-3 fatty acids). For the in vivo study, electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve was performed and erectile function was measured in all groups. Immunohistochemical antibody staining was performed for transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). In vivo measurement of erectile function in the Pathologic group showed significantly lower values than those in the Control group, whereas the Treatment group showed significantly improved values in comparison with those in the Pathologic group. The results of western blot analysis revealed that systemically administered omega-3 fatty acids ameliorated the cavernosal molecular environment. Our study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids improve intracavernosal pressure and have a beneficial role against pathophysiological consequences such as fibrosis or hypoxic damage on a CPI rat model, which represents a structural erectile dysfunction model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Ji Sung
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6745-1776
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Dae Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Jae Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Du Geon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9031-9845
authors.initials: du G
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010413:Penis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Erectile Dysfunction; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Ischemia; Rats