Inhibition of Ninjurin 1 restores erectile function through dual angiogenic and neurotrophic effects in the diabetic mouse.

ABSTRACT: Penile erection is a neurovascular phenomenon, and erectile dysfunction (ED) is caused mainly by vascular risk factors or diseases, neurologic abnormalities, and hormonal disturbances. Men with diabetic ED often have severe endothelial dysfunction and peripheral nerve damage, which result in poor response to oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Nerve injury-induced protein 1 (Ninjurin 1, Ninj1) is known to be involved in neuroinflammatory processes and to be related to vascular regression during the embryonic period. Here, we demonstrate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice that inhibition of the Ninj1 pathway by administering Ninj1-neutralizing antibody (Ninj1-Ab) or by using Ninj1-knockout mice successfully restored erectile function through enhanced penile angiogenesis and neural reg

SUBMITTER: Yin GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4084468 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature