Korean J Urol.  2001 Jun;42(6):650-656.

The Effect of Decreased Serum Glucose on Collagen Contents of Penile Tunica Albuginea and Endothelial Change of Corpus Cavernosum in Long Evans Rat

• Hong HP
• Yang DY
• Kim HY

Abstract

PURPOSE: It is reported that 65% of diabetic male patients over 60 of their age are impotent. However, there is no report concerning the effect of serum glucose control on erectile dysfunction in diabetic patient. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of serum glucose control on erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AMD METHODS: The development of Diabetes mellitus was defined that the serum glucose level was above 200mg/dL in random test at 25 weeks. We designed the experimental specimen into 3 groups; group I: diabetic OLETF (Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty) rats without blood sugar control (n=10), group II: diabetic OLETF rats with blood sugar control with 4U insulin subcutaneous injection daily from 26 to 46 weeks (n=10), group III: diabetic OLETF rats with blood sugar control with 10U insulin subcutaneous injection daily from 26 to 46 weeks (n=10). We estimated the collagen content of penile tunica albuginea with the scanning electron microscopy and observed the endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum with the transmission electron microscopy in each group.
RESULTS
The serum glucose level was 249 +/- 4.1mg/dL, 234 +/- 2.7mg/dL, 215 +/- 3.0mg/dL respectively in group I, II, III, and decreased in order of group II, III. The differences among groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). The thickness of collagen bundles of penile tunica albuginea was 0.98 +/- 0.1 micrometer, 0.94 +/- 0.3 micrometer, 0.92 +/- 0.1 micrometer respectively in group I, II, III, and decreased in order of group II, III. The differences among groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). The endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum were decreased in II, III.
CONCLUSIONS
The serum glucose control in diabetic rats decreases the collagen con tents in penile tunica albuginea and the endothelial layers of corpus cavernosum.

Keyword

Diabetes; Serum glucose; Collagen; Tunica albuginea; Endothelium; Corpus cavernosum

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blood Glucose*
Collagen*
Diabetes Mellitus
Endothelium
Erectile Dysfunction
Humans
Injections, Subcutaneous
Insulin
Male
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Rats*
Rats, Inbred OLETF
Blood Glucose
Collagen
Insulin