AB183. Therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells-based micro-tissues on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)-based micro-tissues (MTs) on erectile dysfunction (ED) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Fifty-eight 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg) and eight weeks later, the determined diabetic rats randomly got intracavernous (IC) injection of phosphate buffer solution (PBS), ADSCs and MTs. Another eight normal rats equally received IC injection of PBS. The injected cells were tracked in ADSCs and MTs groups. Four weeks after the treatment, intracavernous pressure (ICP), histopathological changes in corpus cavernosum (CC), apoptotic index and functional proteins were measured. RESULTS: MTs expressed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), tissue inhibitor of metallopeptidase-1 (TIMP-1) and tumour necrosis factor-stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6). MTs had a better retention than ADSCs and MTs treatment improved ICP, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression, smooth muscle and endothelial content in diabetic rats, ameliorated apoptosis and local inflammation in CC. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that IC injection of MTs improves the erectile function and histopathological changes in STZ-induced diabetic rats and appears to be more promising than traditional ADSCs. The underlying mechanisms involve increased cell retention accompanied with neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory behaviors of the paracrine factors.