Journal List > Korean J Androl > v.29(2) > 1033072

Yoon, Shin, Woo, Kim, Kim, Ha, Kim, Hwang, and Kim: The Effects of New Herbal Formula (KBMSI-1) on the Penile Erection and Corpus Cavernosum in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of new herbal formula (KBMSI-1) on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model.

Materials and Methods

We used male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 weeks and divided into three groups; control (n=8), diabetes (DM) (n=8), DM+KBMSI-1 200 mg/kg treatment (n=8) groups. The DM groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Distilled water was administered in the control and DM group. To investigate the penile erection, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) were recorded in all groups. Serial sections of the penis were used to perform Masson's trichrome stain. We analyzed the expression of nNOS and eNOS concentration in the isolated corpus cavernosum by western blotting.

Results

Peak ICP/MAP ratio was markedly increased in the treatment group with KBMSI-1 compared with DM group (p<0.05). Masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum showed increase in smooth muscle volume and the regular arrangement of collagen fibers in KBMSI-1 treatment group compared with DM group. Western blot analysis revealed that the penile expressions of nNOS and eNOS protein were significantly higher in KBMSI-1-treated group than in DM group.

Conclusions

This study showed that herbal formulation of KBMSI-1 enhances the penile erection and the level of eNOS and nNOS expression of penile corpus cavernosum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model.

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Fig. 1.
Masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum in control group (A), diabetes group (B), KBMSI-1 treatment group (C). In the diabetes group, corpus cavernosum showed reduction of smooth muscles and irregular, distorted arrangement of collagen fibers. In the KBMSI-1 treatment group, corpus cavernosum showed increases volume of smooth muscles and the regular arrangement of collagen fibers (×100, ×400).
kja-29-144f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Muscle distribution (muscle/collagen ratio) of penile corpus cavernosal smooth muscle. DM: diabetes group, DM+ KBMSI-1: diabetes group treated with KBMSI-1. ∗Significantly different (p<0.05) from DM group.
kja-29-144f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Western blot analysis showing the protein expression of eNOS and nNOS. eNOS: endothelial NO synthase, nNOS: neuronal NO synthase. ∗,∗∗Significant different (p<0.05) from DM group.
kja-29-144f3.tif
Table 1.
Composition of herb formula (KBMSI-1) ingredients
Ingredient Percentage (%)
Cervus nippon 10
Ginseng Radix Rubra 10
Cornus officinalis Sieb. Et Zucc 5
Angelica sinensis (olive) diels 5
Lycium chinense Mill 5
Rubus coreanus Miquel 5
Schizandra chinensis Baillon 4
Cuscuta chinensis Lam 2.5
Nelumbo nucifera 2.5
Curcuma longa Linn 1
Honey 50
Table 2.
Changes of body weight and fasting serum glucose level in the experimental groups
Pre-DM induction 4 wk 8 wk
Body weight (g)
 Control 321±26 428±39 492±31
 DM 333±29 379±39 365±29∗
 DM+KBMSI-1 329±31 367±31 389±35∗
Serum glucose (mg/dl)
 Control 103±6 108±5 111±3
 DM 102±3 254±2∗ 352±3∗
 DM+KBMSI-1 105±2 277±1∗ 351±3∗

DM: diabetes group, DM+KBMSI-1: diabetes group treated with KBMSI-1.

∗Significant statistical difference (p<0.05) from the control.

Table 3.
Intracavernosal pressure in the response to electrical stimulation of cavernous nerve in rats of each group
Control DM DM+KBMSI-1 p-value
Peak ICP (mmHg) 43.4±3.07 10.3±1.27 20.70±1.10 <0.05∗
MAP (mmHg) 123.5±9.89 63.5±4.15 94.46±6.09 <0.05∗
ICP/MAP (ratio) 0.35±0.03 0.16±0.02 0.22±0.02 <0.05∗

DM: diabetes group, DM+KBMSI-1: diabetes group treated with KBMSI-1, ICP: intracavernosal pressure, MAP: mean arterial pressure.

∗Significant statistical difference (p<0.05) from the DM group.

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