Observation Of The Effect On Interstitial Cajal-like Cells By Changing Corpus Cavernosum Cx43 In Guinea Pigs

Objective: To observe the expression of corpus cavernosum Cx43 in interstitial Cajal-like cells,and to explore the effect of Cx43 on interstitial Cajal-like cells.Methods: Fifty healthy adult male SPF guinea pigs were selected and divided into five groups according to random number table.Normal group(normal group,n = 10),sham operation group(sham group,n = 10)were injected with normal saline(20 ul/)as control,adeno-associated virus group(AAV group)10 rats were injected with adeno-associated virus(20 ul/)overexpressed Cx43,Gap27 group(0.05 ug/ul)Gap27(20 ul/)was injected to inhibit gap junction,and Imatinib Mesylate group(Imatinib group)was injected with Imatinib(STI571)Mesylate(20 ul/)with 1ug/ul concentration as positive control.Two weeks after drug injection,the experimental animals were killed and tissues were obtained.The expression and distribution of Cx43 and c-Kit protein were detected by immunofluorescence,the expression of Cx43 and c-Kit protein was detected by western blotting,the apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining,and the microstructure of interstitial Cajal-like cells was observed by transmission electron microscope.Results: The results of immunofluorescence double staining showed that Cx43 was mainly expressed on the cell membrane of interstitial Cajal-like cells,and a small amount of expression could be seen between cells.The results of immunofluorescence and immunoblotting showed that there was no difference in the expression of Cx43 among Normal group,Sham group and Gap27 group,but the expression of Cx43 in Imatinib group and AAV group was lower than that in Normal group,and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05).The results of immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed that the expression of c-Kit in Gap27 group,Imatinib group and AAV group was significantly lower than that in Normal group(P < 0.05).The results of TUNEL staining showed that there was no apoptosis in Normal group and Sham group,slight apoptosis in Imatinib group and Gap27 group,and obvious apoptosis in AAV group.The results of transmission electron microscope showed that the interstitial Cajal-like cells were located near the smooth muscle,the cytoplasm was slender,and the nucleus was oval or fusiform.Abundant endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria can be seen in the cell.Conclusion: Corpus cavernosum Cx43 is mainly expressed on the membrane of interstitial Cajal-like cells,and Cx43 is positively correlated with the expression of c-Kit protein.Gap27 inhibits the function of half-channel and gap junction formed by Cx43 and reduces interstitial Cajal-like cells,which may be related to the apoptosis of interstitial Cajal-like cells.