Unveiling the role of vasculogenesis in diabetic erectile dysfunction using a bone marrow transplantation model: preliminary results

Objective: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent complication of diabetes characterized by endothelial dysfunction (EDys). Due to EDys vascular repair is hampered and related to alterations in Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs). However, it was never evaluated if EPCs are involved in diabetic penile repair. Using a female-to-male whole BM transplantation (BMT) model we aimed to evaluate if bone marrow (BM)-derived cells are recruited to diabetic cavernosal endothelial beds, contributing to vascular regeneration. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided in six groups (n=6/group): 8-weeks streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes; 8-weeks diabetics treated with insulin; age-matched controls; age-matched females-to-8-weeks diabetic males BMT; age-matched females-to-8-weeks diabetics treated with insulin BMT; age-matched females to age-matched males BMT. Aplasia was induced by total body irradiation. 3-4x107 donor BM cells (BMCs)/ml were administered in the tail vein of recipient animals, which were sacrificed 6-weeks post-BMT. Engraftment was assessed in peripheral blood by X chromosome detection using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Cavernosal BMCs-incorporation will be evaluated by FISH. Penile cell/molecular alterations will be assessed by CD31, endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS), Stromal-derived Factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) quantitative immunohistochemistry.