Ursodeoxycholic acid ameliorates erectile dysfunction and corporal fibrosis in diabetic rats by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway.

Corporal tissue fibrosis is critical in diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction. Transforming growth factor-β1/Small mothers against decapentaplegic-2 (TGF-β1/Smad2) contributes to the induction of fibrosis in corporal tissue. Smad7 is accepted as a general negative regulator of Smad signaling, although its role in corporal fibrosis is unknown.