Stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction

Figure 2 Effects of adrenomedullin and angiopoietin-1 on the function and morphology of the penis. A: Effects of adenovirus expressing adrenomedullin (AdAM), adenovirus expressing angiopoietin-1 (AdAng-1) and AdAM plus AdAng-1 infection on erectile function. These adenoviruses were infected into the cavernous body of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein (AdGFP) was also infected as the negative control. Age-matched Wistar rats were used as the positive control (PC). Bar graphs demonstrate ICP/MAP (n = 6 per group). ^bP < 0.001 vs AdGFP infection and ^dP < 0.001 vs PC; B: Histological analysis of the cavernous body after adenoviral infection. Elastica van Gieson staining of the cavernous body isolated from age-matched Wistar rats (PC), and STZ-induced diabetic rats infected with AdGFP, AdAM, AdAng-1, and AdAM plus AdAng-1. The histology of the root portion of the penis (longitudinal section) is shown. Bars are 300 μm. Note that the size of trabeculae of the cavernous body is small when AdGFP is injected into the penis of diabetic rats, and that the size is restored to a similar level as observed in the age-matched control group when AdAM and/or AdAng-1 are injected. ICP: Intracavernous pressure; STZ: Streptozotocin; MAP: Mean arterial pressure.