Icariin inhibits hyperglycemia-induced cell death in penile cavernous tissue and improves erectile function in type 1 diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hyperglycemia can cause endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cell (SMC) death in the penile cavernous tissue of rats and lead to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Objectives

To investigate the proportions of apoptotic, pyroptotic, and ferroptotic cells among ECs and SMCs in the penile cavernous tissue of type 1 diabetic (T1DM) rats and the mechanism by which icariin (ICA) improves the erectile function of T1DM rats.

Methods

A total of 24 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 6): control group, control + ICA group, diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and DM + ICA group. T1DM rats were generated via the intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg). After 8 weeks, the rats in the control + ICA group and the DM + ICA group wer

SUBMITTER: Yang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11950537 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature