Protective effects of Danshen injection against erectile dysfunction via suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress activation in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model

• DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2414-3
• Publication Date: 2018-12-26T20:48:43Z
• Authors: Yong Zhang; Jian Chen; Hua Ji; Zhang-Gang Xiao; Peiqiang Shen; Lin-Hao Xu
• Keywords: Malondialdehyde; Intraperitoneal injection

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes. This study aimed to explore the beneficial effect Danshen injection on ED in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model and underlying mechanism. The was established by an intraperitoneal 60 mg/kg STZ male Sprague-Dawley rats. rats were intraperitoneally injected with solution (0.5 or 1 mL/kg/day) same volume saline for 6 weeks. Age-matched served as controls. After weeks, erectile function histological morphology corpora cavernosum assessed. Oxidative stress indicators, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, measured penile tissues. expression levels glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78), growth arrest DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153/CHOP) determined immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, RT-PCR. Apoptosis detected TUNEL assay. erection times significantly less than those control could improve via increased times. also found ameliorate morphological abnormalities cavernosum, reduce number apoptotic cells, suppress caspase-3 activation tissue, accompanied downregulation endoplasmic reticulum biomarkers Grp78 CHOP. increase SOD activity well ROS MDA rats, indicating suppression oxidative stress. rescue diabetes-associated ED, possibly suppressing (ER) stress-induced apoptosis pathways.