Mechanism of the Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in treating diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction based on the CaSR/Gq-PLC-PKC pathway

Background:To investigate the mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction in the treatment of diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction.Methods:Rats with diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction were developed using streptozocin and randomly assigned into model,low-dose herbal,and high-dose herbal groups.All rats were administered normal saline or the corresponding drugs by oral gavage for 4 weeks.The related indices were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays,immunohistochemistry,western blotting,and transmission electron microscopy.Results:The levels of lectin-like oxidized low-density protein receptor-1,endothelin-1,NADH oxidase,vascular cell adhesion molecule-1,and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the model group were significantly higher than they were in the mock group but lower than they were in the herbal treatment group.The level of nitric oxide was lower in the model group than was in the mock group but higher than the level in the herbal treatment group.The calcium-sensitive receptor,phospho-protein kinase Cδ/protein kinase Cδ,phosphorylated c-Jun amino-terminal kinase/c-Jun amino-terminal kinase,and phospho-P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression levels in the model group were higher than were in the mock group but lower than were in the herbal treatment group.The structures of the Corpus cavernosum penis endothelial cells were significantly improved in the herbal treatment group than they did in the model group.Conclusion:Xuefu Zhuyu decoction can decrease injury to the endothelium,improve vascular endothelial diastolic and contractive function,and inhibit vascular fibrosis in rats with diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction.This mechanism may be related to the CaSR/Gq-PLC-PKC pathway.