The Effects of Insulin Treatment on the Contractile Responses of the Seminal Vesicle in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Lee, Yoon Bo; Lee, Dong Hwan; Suh, Hong Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus produces disturbances in reproductive function including decreased serum testosterone levels, however, the effects of diabetes on the contractile function of testosterone-dependent urogenital smooth muscles have not been conclusively established. In this study, the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the contractile responses of rat seminal vesicle were compared with those of insulin-treated diabetic and control groups.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(65mg/kg) and in insulin-treated diabetic group, NPH was daily injected by subcutaneous route. All the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after 6 weeks and the seminal vesicles were immediately removed. The changes of contractile response to electrical field stimulation, phenylephrine and KCI administration were measures by polygraph
RESULTS
1. The weights of seminal vesicle in streptozotocin-induced diabetes were significantly decreased than those of insulin-treated diabetic and control groups(p<0.05). 2. Contractile responses of seminal vesicle to electrical field stimulation were significantly decreased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic compared to insulin-treated diabetic and control groups(p<0.05). 3. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes produced significant increase in contractile responses of seminal vesicle to phenylephrine and KCI than insulin-treated diabetic and control groups(p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that diabetes produce a denervation-like supersensitivity which is specific for receptor-mediated processes and that insulin treatment in diabetic mellitus is able to recover the contractile responses of seminal vesicle.