Neuroprotective effect of lycium barbarum polysaccharides after cavernous nerve crush injury in a rat model

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility of erectile function recovery by repairing crushed cavernous nerves (CN) with lyceum barbarum polysaccharides (LBP).Methods Twenty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham group,LBP group,and control group.Erectile function was assessed by cavernous nerve electrostimulation at 3rd month after operation and nerve regeneration was assessed by toluidine blue staining of CN and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining of penile tissue.Results The peak ICP/MAP ratio in LBP group (0.44 ± 0.05) was significantly higher than in control group (0.26 ± 0.03,P ＜ 0.05),but lower than in sham group (0.68-± 0.08,P ＜ 0.05).The LBP group had more myelinated axons of CNs (106.8 ± 17.9) than the control group (64.9 ± 13.9,P ＜ 0.05),but fewer than the sham group (180.9 ± 15.3,P ＜ 0.05).The LBP group had more NOS diaphorase positive nerve (164.2 ± 12.2) than the control group (85.6 ±14.7,P＜0.05),but fewer than the sham group (263.3 ± 15.0,P＜0.05).Conclusion The application of LBP after CN crush injury promotes nerve regeneration and erectile function recovery. Key words: Lyceum barbarum polysaccharide; Erectile dysfunction; Cavernous nerve