Abstract
BackgroundHypercholesterolaemia (HC) is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease and is also known to be a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). ED caused by HC is thought to be related to HC-induced oxidative stress damage in the vascular endothelium and erectile tissue. KH-204 is an herbal formula with a strong antioxidant effect. We evaluated the effects of KH-204 on erectile function in a rat model of HC-induced ED.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were divided into normal control, high-fat and cholesterol diet (HFC), and HFC with KH-204 treatment (HFC + KH) groups (n = 12 each). Normal control group rats were fed normal chow diet. HFC and HFC + KH group rats were fed high-fat and cholesterol diets and treated with or without daily oral doses of KH-204 for 12 weeks. Subsequently, intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured, and lipid profiles, expression of endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) nitric oxide synthase, oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine), and ratio of smooth muscle cells and collagen fibres were evaluated in the serum and corpora tissue.ResultsCompared to the HFC group, the HFC + KH group showed statistically significant increases in peak ICP and ICP/MAP ratio, expression of eNOS and nNOS, and ratio of smooth muscle cells and collagen fibres (p < 0.05). The HFC + KH group also showed statistically significant decreases in oxidative stress (p < 0.05). Further the lipid profiles of this group were ameliorated compared to those of the HFC group (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe current study shows that the antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects of KH-204 are effective in ameliorating ED by restoring endothelial dysfunction and suggests that KH-204 may be a potential therapeutic agent for ED by correcting the fundamental cause of ED.
Highlights
Hypercholesterolaemia (HC) is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease and is known to be a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED)
Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation aOne-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, overall comparison bComparison between the control and high-fat and cholesterol diet (HFC) groups cComparison between the HFC and HFC + KH groups
The main findings of the present study were as follows: (1) treatment with KH-204 restored erectile function by improving lipid profiles and decreasing oxidative stress in a rat model of ED induced by HC; (2) treatment with KH-204 activated the protein expression of eNOS and nNOS, leading to an increase in nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity and an improvement in erectile function; and (3) KH-204 treatment decreased 8-OHdG levels, confirming the antioxidant effect of KH-204
Summary
Hypercholesterolaemia (HC) is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease and is known to be a risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). ED caused by HC is thought to be related to HC-induced oxidative stress damage in the vascular endothelium and erectile tissue. To maintain a penile erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse, important preconditions are necessary, including proper cavernosal innervation, maintenance of endothelial function, and well-functioning erectile tissue. Erectile dysfunction (ED), defined as the consistent inability to attain or maintain a penile erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse [1], is a highly prevalent global health problem with considerable impact on the quality of life of middle-aged men [2]. ED can be induced by various causes, including arterial, neurogenic, hormonal, cavernosal, iatrogenic, and psychogenic causes. The most common cause is likely related to vascular abnormalities caused by endothelial dysfunction and erectile tissue dysfunction [3, 4]. 30.9 million people (13.1%) were reported to have HC in the United States in 2012 [5]
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