LncRNA MIAT facilitated BM-MSCs differentiation into endothelial cells and restored erectile dysfunction via targeting miR-200a in a rat model of erectile dysfunction.

Background: Bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) implantation effectively restored rats' erectile dysfunction (ED). Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA)-myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) has been reported to play an important role in regulating endothelial cells (ECs) function via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that induced BM-MSCs differentiation into ECs. However, the molecular functions and biological roles of lncRNA MIAT in ED remained unclear.

Antioxidative mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides promotes repair and regeneration following cavernous nerve injury.

Polysaccharides extracted from Lycium barbarum exhibit antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that these polysaccharides resist oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage following cavernous nerve injury. In this study, rat models were intragastrically administered Lycium barbarum polysaccharides for 2 weeks at 1, 7, and 14 days after cavernous nerve injury.

Cavernous nerve reconstruction with autologous vein graft and platelet-derived growth factors.

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using autologous vein graft and platelet-derived growth factors to bridge transected cavernous nerve in a rat model. A short defect in the bilateral cavernous nerve was created and repaired with vein graft from the right jugular vein or vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors. The 32 rats were divided into four groups, namely Group 1 - no repair as a negative control, Group 2 - vein graft alone, Group 3 - vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors, and Group 4 - sham operation as a positive control.

Role of oxidative stress in surgical cavernous nerve injury in a rat model.

This study investigates the role of oxidative stress in surgical cavernous nerve (CN) injury in a rat model. Eighty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group 1, sham-operated rats; group 2, bilateral CN-crushed rats; and group 3, bilateral CN-transection-and-sutured-immediately rats. Oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde levels, super oxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in serum.

[Estradiol stimulates proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells via estrogen receptor alpha and IGF1].

Objective: To investigate the effects of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) in vitro.

Methods: The ERalpha shRNA expression frame was subcloned to the pGSadeno adenovirus vector by homologous recombination technology to construct the pGSaaeno-ERalpha vector. After the mouse PSMCs were transfected in vitro by pGSaaeno-ERalpha, the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERalpha were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on cavernous nerve regeneration in a rat model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on cavernous nerve (CN) regeneration and functional status in a nerve-crush rat model. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: eight had a sham operation, eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention and eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with an immediate application of PRP on the site of injury. Erectile function was assessed by CN electrostimulation at 3 months and nerve regeneration was assessed by toluidine blue staining of CN and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining of penile tissue.

[Effect of platelet rich plasma on the regeneration of cavernous nerve: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration of injured cavernous nerve (CN).

Methods: Blood was collected from the hearts of 6 SD rats to prepare PRP. 24 male adult rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: pure suture group undergoing bilateral CN transaction and pure suture immediately, PRP group undergoing bilateral CN transaction + suture + PRP 200 microl to the site of suture, and sham operation group.

[IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, levels in the expressed prostatic secretions of patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis].

Objective: To investigate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma and anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta1, in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of men with chronic abacterial prostatitis and their clinical significance.

Methods: The levels of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, in the EPS of 20 patients with inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type III A), 20 patients with non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type Ill B) and 10 healthy men were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were analysed comparatively with NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI).