| |
Normal |
Control |
Vitamin E |
Sildenafil |
Vitamin E + Sildenafil |
|
| nNOS |
616 ± 27.4 |
264 ± 18* |
360 ± 16* |
380 ± 15* |
555 ± 22 |
| % endothelial cell |
62.6 ± 3.2 |
16 ± 1.9* |
24.0 ± 2.5* |
20.0 ± 4.5* |
33 ± 1.2* |
% SM  -actin |
14.42 ± 0.3 |
9.35 ± 0.3* |
9.5 ± 0.3* |
10.4 ± 0.3* |
12.9 ± 0.6 |
| % nitrotyrosine |
0.94 ± 0.1 |
2.54 ± 0.01* |
1.89 ± 0.03* |
3.22 ± 0.1* |
1.57 ± 0.2 |
|
 nNOS indicates neuron nitric oxide synthase; SM, smooth muscle |
 The sum of positive staining of nNOS within the dorsal nerve and 3
other sites in the penile corpus cavernosum (power, 400x) is reported.
The proportion of positive staining of endothelial cells within the major
penile sinusoids (power, 400x) relative to normal animals demonstrated a
significant decrease in all of the diabetic groups, with the vitamin E plus
sildenafil group reaching only 50% of normal controls. The proportion of
positive staining of SM -actin to the cross-sectional areas of midshaft
penile sections (power, 25x) in the vitamin E plus sildenafil group
approached the level in normal controls, whereas it was significantly lower in
the other treatment groups. The proportion of positive staining of
nitrotyrosine (power, 400x) was significantly increased in 3 treatment
groups but not in the vitamin E plus sildenafil group |
| *P < .05 |
|