Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Atherosclerosis-induced Chronic Pelvic Ischemia

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the omega-3 fatty acids help to improve erectile function in an atherosclerosis-induced erectile dysfunction rat model. A total of 20 male Sprague-Dawley rats at age 8 weeks were divided into three groups: Control group (n = 6, untreated sham operated rats), Pathologic group (n = 7, untreated rats with chronic pelvic ischemia [CPI]), and Treatment group (n = 7, CPI rats treated with omega-3 fatty acids). For the in vivo study, electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve was performed and erectile function was measured in all groups. Immunohistochemical antibody staining was performed for transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). In vivo measurement of erectile function in the Pathologic group showed significantly lower values than those in the Control group, whereas the Treatment group showed significantly improved values in comparison with those in the Pathologic group. The results of western blot analysis revealed that systemically administered omega-3 fatty acids ameliorated the cavernosal molecular environment. Our study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids improve intracavernosal pressure and have a beneficial role against pathophysiological consequences such as fibrosis or hypoxic damage on a CPI rat model, which represents a structural erectile dysfunction model.

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Long chain omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

José Miranda, Pablo Martínez, Javier Delgado-Lista … (2012)

Cardiovascular disease remains the commonest health problem in developed countries, and residual risk after implementing all current therapies is still high. The use of marine omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) has been recommended to reduce cardiovascular risk by multiple mechanisms. To update the current evidence on the influence of omega-3 on the rate of cardiovascular events. We used the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify clinical trials and randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids (with quantified quantities) either in capsules or in dietary intake, compared to placebo or usual diet, equal to or longer than 6 months, and written in English. The primary outcome was a cardiovascular event of any kind and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiac death and coronary events. We used RevMan 5·1 (Mantel-Haenszel method). Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 and Chi2 tests. We included 21 of the 452 pre-selected studies. We found an overall decrease of risk of suffering a cardiovascular event of any kind of 10 % (OR 0·90; [0·85-0·96], p = 0·001), a 9 % decrease of risk of cardiac death (OR 0·91; [0·83-0·99]; p = 0·03), a decrease of coronary events (fatal and non-fatal) of 18 % (OR 0·82; [0·75-0·90]; p < 1 × 10⁻⁴), and a trend to lower total mortality (5 % reduction of risk; OR 0·95; [0·89-1·02]; p = 0·15. Most of the studies analyzed included persons with high cardiovascular risk. marine omega-3 fatty acids are effective in preventing cardiovascular events, cardiac death and coronary events, especially in persons with high cardiovascular risk.

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Histological alterations in cavernous tissue after radical prostatectomy.

Fabrizio Iacono, Renato Giannella, Pasquale Somma … (2005)

Radical prostatectomy often results in erectile dysfunction because of lesions to the erectile nerves. In this study we evaluated histomorphological alterations in cavernous smooth muscle and collagen content after radical prostatectomy. A total of 19 patients between 57 and 69 years old with prostate adenocarcinoma and normal erectile function, as reported and validated by RigiScan (UroHealth Systems, Laguna Niguel, California) testing, underwent corpora cavernosa biopsy in the operating room before radical prostatectomy, and 2 and 12 months after surgery. No patient underwent hormone therapy before or after surgery and none was diabetic. Elastic fibers (manual counting), muscle specific actin (immunostaining) and collagen content (computerized morphometric imaging) were measured in the 3 biopsies. In all cases the first postoperative histological assessment revealed some disorganization. Trabecular elastic fibers (p <0.0003) and smooth muscle fibers were decreased and collagen content was significantly increased (p <0.0003) compared with preoperative biopsies. One year after surgery elastic fibers (p <0.0003) and smooth muscle fibers were decreased and collagen content was significantly increased (p <0.0003) compared with the first postoperative biopsy. Moreover, organized collagen and trabecular protocollagen deposits were increased. Progressive fibrosis in the corpora cavernosa after radical prostatectomy probably results from denervation and/or an ischemic process, which is caused in turn by the ligation of anomalous pudendal artery branches or of venous plexuses that drain to or from the corpora cavernosa. Fibrosis and the subsequent loss in elasticity and function of erectile tissue probably together cause erectile dysfunction.

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The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoate reduces cytokine-induced expression of proatherogenic and proinflammatory proteins in human endothelial cells.

Michael Gimbrone, Cornelis A. R. Groot, S. Clinton … (1994)

The mechanisms by which dietary fatty acids can modulate atherogenesis and inflammation are poorly understood. Induction in endothelial cells of adhesion molecules for circulating leukocytes and of inflammatory mediators by cytokines probably contributes to the early phases of atherogenesis and inflammation. We report here that incorporation into cellular lipids of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a specific fatty acid of the omega 3 family, decreases cytokine-induced expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules, secretion of inflammatory mediators, and leukocyte adhesion to cultured endothelial cells. DHA, but not eicosapentaenoic acid, decreased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) induced by interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-4, or bacterial lipopolysaccharide, with half-maximum inhibition at < 10 mumol/L. This reduction required prolonged (24- to 96-hour) exposure of endothelial cells to DHA and correlated with the degree of DHA incorporation into cellular lipids. DHA also limited cytokine-stimulated endothelial cell expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 into the medium but not the surface expression of constitutive surface molecules. Cyclooxygenase inhibition did not block the effect of DHA on VCAM-1. In parallel with reduced surface VCAM-1 protein expression, DHA reduced VCAM-1 mRNA induction by IL-1 or TNF. DHA treatment also reduced the adhesion of human monocytes and of monocytic U937 cells to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells. These properties of DHA may contribute to antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 fatty acids.

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Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Korean Med Sci

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Korean Med. Sci

Journal ID (publisher-id): JKMS

Title: Journal of Korean Medical Science

Publisher: The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences

ISSN (Print): 1011-8934

ISSN (Electronic): 1598-6357

Publication date (Print): April 2016

Publication date (Electronic): 22 February 2016

Volume: 31

Issue: 4

Pages: 585-589

Affiliations

Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Author notes

Address for Correspondence: Du Geon Moon, MD. Department of Urology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul 08308, Korea. dgmoon@ 123456korea.ac.kr

Author information

Ji Sung Shim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-1776

Du Geon Moon http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9031-9845

Article

DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.4.585

PMC ID: 4810342

PubMed ID: 27051243

SO-VID: 6898172c-c3fc-4a36-b1b9-43483c61948d

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This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Erectile Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Atherosclerosis-induced Chronic Pelvic Ischemia

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Animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Most cited references 21

Long chain omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

Histological alterations in cavernous tissue after radical prostatectomy.

The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoate reduces cytokine-induced expression of proatherogenic and proinflammatory proteins in human endothelial cells.

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