Study On The Mechanism Of Improving The Erectile Function Of ED Rats By Panax Notoginseng Saponins

Objective To observe the effect of PNS on the autophagy,gap junction and apoptosis of smooth muscle cell of penis of model rats with erectile dysfunction,and to discuss the relevant mechanism of improvement of model rats’erectile dysfunction by PNS,so as to provide an experimental basis for the treatment on erectile dysfunction through Traditional Chinese Medicine in the microcosmic aspect.Methods 1.The cavernous nerve at both sides of modeling rats were excised,and then they were divided into six groups including control group(NA),sham operation group(Sham),bilateral cavernous nerve excision group(BCN),which was further divided into four groups including excision control group(CO),low-dosage PNS group(50mg/kg,PNS-50),moderate-dosage PNS group(100mg/kg,PNS-100)and high-dosage PNS group(150mg/kg,PNS-150).In 12 weeks,the rats were injected with apomorphine(APO)in order to confirm whether the modeling is successful or not.Then the rats in PNS group were respectively injected with PNS reagent according to the low,moderate and high level of dosage,the rest rats were injected with equivalent amount of normal saline.APO method was used to test the erectile effect in two weeks.2.The rat’s penile tissue was taken and detected by western blot(WB)in terms of change in Beclin-1,LC3 and p62 of its autophagy-related proteins,as well as the change in apoptosis-related protein,cleaved capase3 and connexin Cx43 after phosphorylation.Results 1.The model rat’s erectile dysfunction can be improved in a dosedependent manner by the treatment of PNS,the penile erection level can be elevated in a dose-dependent manner.2.The WB result showed that,the phosphorylation level of Cx43 of PNS group can be upregulated in a dose-dependent manner,meanwhile,the ratio between the expression of apoptosis-related protein Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ can also be upregulated,p63 is down-regulated and the autophagy level is elevated,cleaved caspase 3 is down-regulated simultaneously and the apoptosis is inhibited.Conclusion 1.PNS can improve the erectile ability of model rat with erectile dysfunction caused by cavernous nerve blockage,and can exert different effects with different concentration.2.PNS can promote the autophagy of smooth muscle cell of rats in a dose-dependent manner,and inhibit the apoptosis of smooth muscle cell of rats,up-regulate the phosphorylation level of Cx43 and improve gap junction.