L-肉碱对老年雄性大鼠阴茎勃起功能和结构的影响研究

Effects of L-carnitine on erectile function and structure in elderly male rats

目的:探讨L-肉碱对老年雄性大鼠阴茎勃起功能和结构的影响。方法:以3个月龄和16个月龄的Wistar雄性大鼠为研究对象,饲喂16个月龄雄性大鼠L-肉碱2个月后,测量大鼠体重及血压。阿朴吗啡皮下注射观察30min内大鼠的勃起次数和打哈欠次数。RT-PCR检测TGF-β1mRNA表达水平。Western blot检测阴茎组织TGF-β1蛋白表达水平。F-actin荧光染色和共聚焦显微镜观察阴茎组织平滑肌与胶原的比例。结果:老年组、老年L-肉碱组大鼠体重和血压比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。老年组勃起次数及打哈欠次数明显少于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);老年L-肉碱组中勃起次数及打哈欠次数明显多于老年组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。老年组TGF-β1mRNA相对表达水平明显多于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);老年L-肉碱组中TGF-β1mRNA相对表达水平明显少于老年组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。TGF-β1蛋白表达率在老年组中明显多于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);老年L-肉碱组中TGF-β1蛋白表达率明显少于老年组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。老年组阴茎组织平滑肌与胶原的比例明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);老年L-肉碱组阴茎组织平滑肌与胶原的比例明显多于老年组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:L-肉碱可以通过抑制TGF-β1表达改善大鼠阴茎勃起功能。

Objective：To explore the effect of L-carnitine on erectile function and structure in elderly male rats.Method：Three-month-old male rats and 16-month-old male rats were used to study.The weight and blood pressure of the 16-month-old male rats were measured after L-carnitine feeding for two months.The number of erections and yawns of rats in 30 min were observed after subcutaneous injection of apomorphine.TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression level was detected by RT-PCR.The expression level of TGF-beta 1 was detected in Western blot.F-actin fluorescence staining and confocal microscopy were used to observe the ratio of smooth muscle and collagen in the penis tissue.Result：There was no statistically significant difference in weight and blood pressure between the elderly group and the elderly L-carnitine group（P〉0.05）.The number of erections and yawns were significantly lower in the older group than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The number of erections and yawns in the elderly L-carnitine group were significantly higher than those in the elderly group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The relative expression level of TGFbeta 1 mRNA in elderly group was significantly higher than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The relative expression level of TGF-beta 1 mRNA in elderly L-carnitine group was significantly lower than that in the older group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The expression rate of TGF-beta 1 was significantly higher in the elderly group than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The expression rate of TGF-beta 1 protein in elderly Lcarnitine group was significantly lower than that in the elderly group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The ratio of smooth muscle and collagen was significantly lower in the elderly group than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.The ratio of smooth muscle and collagen in the elderly L-carnitine group was significantly higher than that in the elderly group,and the difference was statistically significant（P〈0.01）.Conclusion：L-carnitine can improve the erectile function in rats by inhibiting TGF-beta 1 expression.