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The effect of Ferula elaeochytris root extract on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important complication of diabetes. The aim of our study was to determine whether Ferula elaeochytris (FE) root extract could affect ED in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Seventy-five adult male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into five groups; control (C), FE (40 mg/kg-d), STZ-induced diabetes (60 mg/kg) (DM), diabetes + F. elaeochytris (DM + FE), and ethanol (EtOH). After 8 weeks, in vitro and in vivo parameters (intracavernosal pressure [ICP]), testicle and body weight, serum glucose levels, and histopathology were assessed. In the STZ-induced diabetic group, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation responses, and electrical field stimulation-induced neurogenic and nitrergic relaxation responses were decreased significantly, while FE administration to diabetic rats reversed the decreased nitrergic and neurogenic responses. In the diabetic group, ICP/MAP (0.1375 ± 0.02 cm/H2O), spermatogenesis in testicles (53.73 ± 0.81), and testicle weights (257.8 ± 20.63) were decreased significantly; however, FE administration to diabetic rats restored the decreased values (0.350 ± 0.019 cm/H2O, 75.07 ± 0.35, and 416 ± 24.11, respectively). In the DM group, blood glucose levels were increased (411.7 ± 18.30) compared to the C group. However, FE administration to diabetic rats reduced glucose levels (230.6 ± 25.60 mg/dL) compared to the DM group. In conclusion, FE recovered neurogenic and endothelial dysfunction and decreased glucose levels in diabetic rats.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atilla Yoldas and Prof. Dr. Sena Sezen to contribute the article. We also thank Scientific Research Projects of Cukurova University (TDK-2015-1996) and also The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) to support this study as a scholar of 2211-C-Domestic-Doctoral-Scholarship-Program for Priority-Areas (2014-1).

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Correspondence to Nadire Eser.

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Eser, N., Buyuknacar, H.S., Cimentepe, O.O. et al. The effect of Ferula elaeochytris root extract on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Int J Impot Res 32, 186–194 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-019-0137-8

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