Pioglitazone Enhances Survival and Regeneration of Pelvic Ganglion Neurons After Cavernosal Nerve Injury

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• 作者：Eric G. Katz^a ; Ahmed A. Moustafa^a ; ^c ; Daniel Heidenberg^a ; Nora Haney^a ; Taylor Peak^a ; George F. Lasker^a ; Margaret Knoedler^a ; Daniel Rittenberg^a ; Bashir M. Rezk^b ; Zakaria Y. Abd Elmageed^a ; Faysal A. Yafi^a ; Suresh Sikka^a ; Asim B. Abdel-Mageed^a ; Wayne J.G. Hellstrom^a ; ^{whellst@tulane.edu" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 刊名：Urology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：March 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：89
• 期：Complete
• 页码：76-82
• 全文大小：701 K

文摘

To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on pelvic ganglion neurons in a rat model of bilateral cavernosal nerve crush injury (BCNI), thereby elucidating the actions of pioglitazone in preventing post-prostatectomy neurogenic erectile dysfunction.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 weeks were divided into four groups: (a) sham procedure, (b) BCNI, (c) BCNI + postsurgical pioglitazone, and (d) BCNI + pre and postsurgical pioglitazone (preventive therapy). Preoperative injection of Fluoro-Gold (FG) fluorescent tracer into the cavernosal tissue was performed for retrograde labeling of pelvic ganglion cells. Pelvic ganglia were resected at 2 weeks in all rats and processed for real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot to examine the expression of FG, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, β-III tubulin, neurturin, and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-2 (GFRα2).

Results

Animals treated with pre- and postsurgical pioglitazone demonstrated increased staining for FG similar to sham levels. Gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, neurturin, GFRα2, and β-III tubulin was also upregulated in the group receiving preventive therapy.

Conclusion

Pioglitazone provides a protective effect on pelvic ganglion neurons after BCNI.