Effects of vascular endothelial growth factor transfected endothelial progenitor cells transplantation on erectile function for mice

Abstract

Objective To investigate the the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene transfected endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) transplantation on penile for erectile dysfunction (ED) mice. Methods 24 male Wistar mice, 8 weeks, were made from animal models for ED by feeding high fat forage. They were randomly divided into 3 groups: group Ⅰ (control), group Ⅱ (EPCs transplantation) and group Ⅲ (VEGF gene transfection EPCs transplantation). EPCs and VEGF gene transfection EPCs were administered for group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ respectively. Saline was given to group Ⅰ. Drug erectile experiment, newly born capillaries, ICAM-1and VEGF detection was performed in 28 days. Results The expression of ICAM-1 in corpus cavernosum penis in group Ⅲ was (1 090.44±158.38) pg/ml, which was lower than that in group Ⅱ [(1 654.27±232.14) pg/ml, P=0.045]. And which of group Ⅱ was lower than that of group Ⅰ [(3 860.54±456.18) pg/ml, P=0.015]. The expression of VEGF in corpus cavernosum penis in group Ⅲ was (768.13±134.37) pg/ml, it was higher than that in group Ⅱ [(579.79±68.62) pg/ml, P=0.025], and it was higher than that of group Ⅰ [(54.45±19.37) pg/ml , P=0.048]. The erectile times in group Ⅲ was 2.30±0.67 and greater than which of group Ⅱ (1.83±0.87, P=0.033). The number of newly born capillaries in group Ⅲ was 143.32±49.27 and more than which of group Ⅱ (73.69±23.32, P=0.001). The number of newly born capillaries in group Ⅱ was bigger than which of group Ⅰ (46.31±11.17, P=0.024). Conclusion VEGF gene transfection endothelial progenitor cell transplantation can promote the expression of VEGF in orpus cavernosum penis, regeneration of newly born capillaries, vascular endothelial function and erectile function for ED mice. Key words: Erectile dysfunction; Endothelial progenitor cells; Vascular endothelial growth factor