The effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on erectile function recovery in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on erectile function recovery in a rat model of cavernous nerves (CN) injury. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: ten rats underwent sham operation (sham group), ten underwent bilateral CN crush injury (injured control group) and the other ten underwent bilateral CN crush injury with an oral administration of LBP for 12 weeks (LBP application group). Oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) level, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in serum. Erectile function was assessed by CN electro-stimulation and CN regeneration was evaluated by toluidine blue staining at 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the peak intracavernous pressure (ICP) and peak ICP per mean arterial pressure in the LBP application group were significantly higher than those in the injured control group, although lower than the sham group. The number of myelinated axons of CN in the LBP application group was more than that in the injured control group but fewer than the sham group. The results demonstrate that the application of LBP after CN crush injury promotes nerve regeneration and erectile function recovery. Key words: Erectile dysfunction, Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, oxidative stress, nerve regeneration.