Dataset Information

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Rat Cavernous Tissue Reveals Cellular Heterogeneity and Molecular Alterations in Cavernous Nerve Injury-Induced Erectile Dysfunction

ABSTRACT: Erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to cavernous nerve injury (CNI) is a common complication of pelvic surgeries, yet its cellular pathophysiology remains incompletely characterized. Here, we generated a high-resolution single-cell transcriptomic atlas of rat cavernous tissue following CNI. Our analysis identified dysregulated gene networks in key cell populations (e.g., fibroblast, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, Schwann cells, and macrophages) associated with fibrosis, vascular dysfunction, and axonal degeneration. This dataset provides a foundation for understanding CNI-mediated ED and discovering targets for nerve regeneration and tissue repair.

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

PROVIDER: GSE298059 | GEO | 2025/06/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
		Other

Items per page:

1 - 1 of 1

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background: There is growing evidence that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in a variety of diseases, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Nevertheless, the role of circRNAs in cavernous nerve-damaging ED (CNI-ED) is unknown. Here, we aimed to discover new circRNAs, investigate their potential role in the pathogenesis of CNI-ED, and construct a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Methods: Twelve male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into bilateral cavernous nerve crush (BCNC) and control groups. Four weeks after surgery, the spongy smooth muscle tissue of the rat penis was sequenced using high-throughput full transcriptome sequencing. We analyzed the expression profiles of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in the two groups. Twenty circRNAs with significantly different expressions were selected for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was established using Cytoscape. Gene ontology (GO)-term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using the edgeR package. Results: RNA transcriptome sequencing showed that 4,587 circRNAs, 762 miRNAs, and 21,661 mRNAs were dysregulated in the BCNC group. The top 20 differentially expressed circRNAs were further verified via RT-qPCR. The ceRNA network contained 23 circRNA-miRNA pairs and 227 miRNA-mRNA pairs, including ten circRNAs, six miRNAs, and 227 mRNAs. GO analysis suggested that these ten circRNAs could regulate various processes, such as oxidation-reduction processes, lipid metabolic processes, apoptotic processes, and proteolysis. Furthermore, KEGG analysis of mRNAs in the ceRNA network showed that they were involved in energy metabolism and communication between cells. A protein‐protein interaction network was constructed with the 227 mRNAs, and five hub genes (Ccna2, Cxcl10, Pld1, Mapk11, and Mboat2) were identified. In addition, Using circRNADb, we found 12 circRNAs with protein-coding potential, three of which were highly conserved in humans and rats. Our study revealed a potential link between circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in CNI-ED, suggesting that circRNAs may contribute to the occurrence of ED by regulating the cellular energy metabolism in CNI-ED.

Project description:Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent male sexual disorder, commonly associated with hypertension, though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aims to explore the role of Fatty acid synthase (Fasn) in hypertension-induced ED and evaluate the therapeutic potential of the Fasn inhibitor C75. Materials and Methods: Erectile function was assessed by determining the intracavernous pressure/ mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) ratio, followed by the collection of cavernous tissue for transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolomic analyses. In vitro, a concentration of 10-6 M angiotensin II (Ang II) was applied to rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs) to establish a model of hypertension. In vivo, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into two groups. The SHR+C75 group received intraperitoneal injections of C75 at a dose of 2 mg/kg once a week. After five weeks of treatment, the erectile function of the rats was assessed, and penile tissues were harvested for further analysis. Molecular and protein expression were assessed using Western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and immunohistochemistry. Results: The SHR exhibited ED, indicated by reduced maximum ICP/MAP ratios. Histologically, corpus cavernosum tissue of SHR showed elevated fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction. Additionally, increased expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 was observed. Multi-omics analysis revealed significant enrichment in lipid metabolic pathways, with Fasn identified as a hub gene. In vitro, siFasn and C75 enhanced antioxidant markers Nrf2 and HO-1, reduced ROS accumulation, and suppressed NLRP3 and GSDMD levels. In vivo, C75 treatment restored endothelial function and reversed erectile dysfunction, accompanied by decreased oxidative stress and pyroptosis in the penile corpus cavernosum. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Fasn inhibition may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for hypertension-induced ED by alleviating oxidative stress and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent endothelial cell pyroptosis via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Dataset Information

Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Rat Cavernous Tissue Reveals Cellular Heterogeneity and Molecular Alterations in Cavernous Nerve Injury-Induced Erectile Dysfunction

Dataset's files

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets