Ela tablets improve sexual performance in mice with erectile dysfunction caused by repeated restraint stress

艾拉片对重复束缚应激所致勃起功能障碍小鼠的治疗作用

Ela tablets contain an optimized extract of a Chinese herbal prescription. The original prescription has been used to treat erectile dysfunction(ED), while the detailed indications and specific treatment mechanisms of Ela tablets remain unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether Ela tablets could protect mice from ED caused by repeated restraint stress and to explore the possible mechanisms. Mice were restrained daily in centrifuge tubes with venting holes for 14 consecutive days and administered Ela tablets at 1 h before restraining. On the 14 th night, mating experiments were conducted. Thereafter, blood, testicular, and penile samples were collected. Serum testosterone levels were measured using a kit. Testicular tissue morphology was observed by H&E staining. The PDE5 expression in the corpus cavernosum was measured by Western blotting analysis. The results indicated that Ela tablets significantly shortened the sexual arousal time, increased the number of sexual encounters, maintained the normal morphology of testicular tissue, increased the serum testosterone levels, and decreased the PDE5 expression in the corpus cavernosum. Our data showed that Ela tablets elicited protective effects on the sexual ability of mice exposed to repeated restraint stress. Moreover, the underlying mechanism was related to the preservation of testicular tissue morphology, maintenance of testosterone levels, and inhibition of penile PDE5 expression.

艾拉片是由经典维医方药Majun Mupakhi Ela优化提取制备得到的。该方一直用于阳痿的治疗,但艾拉片的具体适应证和治疗机制尚不清楚。本研究拟探讨艾拉片对重复束缚应激所致勃起功能障碍(ED)小鼠的保护作用及其可能机制。每天将小鼠置于束缚盒中连续14天,并在束缚前1小时给予艾拉片。第14日晚进行交配实验。此后,收集血液、睾丸和阴茎样本,测定血清睾酮水平,HE染色观察睾丸组织形态,免疫印迹法检测磷酸二脂酶5(PDE5)在海绵体中的表达变化情况。结果表明,艾拉片能显著缩短性唤起时间,增加性接触次数,维持睾丸组织的正常形态,提高血清睾酮水平,降低阴茎海绵体PDE5的表达。综上,艾拉片对重复束缚应激小鼠的性能力具有保护作用,其机制与保护睾丸组织形态、维持睾酮水平及抑制阴茎PDE5表达有关。