| dc.description.abstract | As standard therapy for prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy causes cavernous nerve (CN) injury and increases fibrosis and hypoxia-induced penile structural alterations. This study aimed to determine the potential beneficial effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and L-arginine alone or in combination on the penile erection in a rat model of erectile dysfunction caused by bilateral cavernous nerve transection (CNT). Male rats (n = 35) were randomized into five groups: Sham-operated; CNT (4-weeks); CNT plus ADSCs (1 106 cells by intracavernosal injection); CNT plus L-arginine (4 weeks, 10 mg/kg/day, oral); and ADSCs combined with L-arginine in CNT. In vivo erectile responses and in vitro relaxant responses were measured. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses were used to determine the expression and localization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, transforming growth factor-beta 1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a), and apoptosis markers (Bax and Bcl-2). The ratio of smooth muscle to collagen and nerve regeneration were calculated using Masson's trichrome and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining. The combined treatment restored diminished erectile responses, endotheliumdependent acetylcholine, and electrical field stimulation-induced relaxation of the corpus cavernosum in rats with CNT, whereas either monotherapy produced only partial improvements. All treatment regimens restored increases in the protein expression of HIF-1 and Bax in rats with CNT. The decrease in smooth muscle mass and NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibers was partially ameliorated by monotherapy, whereas combined therapy led to recovery. These findings indicate that combined treatment with ADSCs and L-arginine may restore erectile function in rats with CNT by inhibiting hypoxia-induced neurotoxicity and preserving endothelium function and smooth muscle content. © 2023 Mary Ann Liebert Inc.. All rights reserved. | en_US |
| dc.department-temp | Yilmaz-Oral, D., Departments of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey; Sezen, S.F., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, Drug and Pharmaceutical Technology Application and Research Center, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey; Turkcan, D., Departments of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey; Asker, H., Departments of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara Medipol University, Ankara, Turkey; Kaya-Sezginer, E., Departments of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey; Kirlangic, O.F., Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey; Kopru, C.Z., Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Yüksek Ihtisas University, Ankara, Turkey; Elci, M.P., Gulhane Institute of Health Sciences R&D Center, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey; Ozen, F.Z., Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey; Korkusuz, P., Department of H | en_US |
