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Neuroprotective effects of melatonin on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

To explore the neuroprotective effects and its possible mechanisms of melatonin (MT) on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods

Twenty-eight Sprague–Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and 8 weeks later, the determined diabetic rats randomly got intraperitoneal injection of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) or MT. Another 12 normal rats received PBS treatment. Four weeks later, intracavernous pressure, mean arterial pressure, pathological changes in penis, and major pelvic ganglion (MPG) were measured. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, p38 and p-p38 levels in penis were detected.

Results

Diabetic rats showed significant decreases of erectile function accompanied with serious neuropathy in dorsal penile nerve (DPN) and MPG, meanwhile collagen deposition, oxidative stress, and p-p38 levels in penis were elevated. Melatonin treatment partially but significantly improved the erectile function, ameliorated neuropathy in DPN and MPG, and decreased collagen deposition, oxidative stress, and p-p38 levels in diabetic rats.

Conclusions

Melatonin treatment helps improve erectile function and ameliorate neuropathy and fibrosis in diabetic rats. These may be associated with reductions in oxidative stress, p38MAPK signaling pathway, and neuropathy.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81641165), Jiangsu Provincial Medical Youth Talent Foundation (QNRC2016720), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580466), and Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (2016T90497).

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Author notes

  1. Jiang-lei Zhang and Yu Hui have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Jiang-lei Zhang, Yu Hui, Feng Zhou & Jian-Quan Hou

Authors
  1. Jiang-lei Zhang
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  2. Yu Hui
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  3. Feng Zhou
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  4. Jian-Quan Hou
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Feng Zhou or Jian-Quan Hou.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed; all procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Committee for Animal Care and Use of Soochow University.

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Zhang, Jl., Hui, Y., Zhou, F. et al. Neuroprotective effects of melatonin on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Int Urol Nephrol 50, 1981–1988 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-018-1989-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-018-1989-4

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