Astaxanthin mitigates radiation-induced erectile dysfunction: protective effects on corpus cavernosum in a rat model
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2025
Yazarlar: GÜNAL ÖZGÜR, BAHADIR ŞAHİN, BESTE MELEK ATASOY, CANBERK TOMRUK, CANSIN ŞİRİN TOMRUK, HASAN HÜSEYİN TAVUKÇU, ALİ YAMAN, Ali Yaman, Cemile Ceylan, Deniz Mukaddes Türet, NİHAL ŞEHKAR OKTAY, Yiğit UYANIKGİL, HAYDAR KAMİL ÇAM
International Journal of Impotence Research, SCI İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Wos, 2025, cilt 38, ss 404-411
DOI: 10.1038/s41443-025-01106-6
Özet
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation (iR) on corpus cavernosum and the potential of astaxanthin (AST) in preventing radiation-induced erectile dysfunction (RiED). Male Wistar Albino rats (10-12 week, 250-300 g) were divided-into four groups: sham (SH, n = 8), radiotherapy (RT, n = 8), vehicle-administered (olive oil (OO); RT + OO, n = 12), and astaxanthin (RT + AST, n = 12). The RT-group received 12-Gy prostate-targeted iR. The vehicle-administered (OO) group received iR with daily 1 ml OO via oral gavage, while the AST-group received iR with 50 mg/kg AST dissolved in OO. After the treatment-period (12-week), intracavernosal pressure to mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) ratios in the RT [0.28(0.14-0.65)] and OO groups [0.26(0.19-0.64)] were significantly lower than in the SH [0.6(0.43-0.72)] and AST [0.53(0.35-0.64)] groups (p < 0.05). iR caused narrowing of the cavernous sinusoids (RT:95.38 (84.62-110.05) vs SH:132.33 (113.27-155.86), AST:124.44 (112.11-131.97) µm, p < 0.001). Alpha smooth muscle actin (SH:165 (136.25-188.75) vs RT:100 (87.5-112.5), AST:137.5 (107.5-155), p < 0.001), endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) (SH:127.5 (115-167.5) vs RT:92.5 (81.25-98.75), AST:115 (86.25-128.75), p = 0.002) and neuronal NOS (SH:152.5 (133.75-163.75) vs RT:95 (81.25-103.75), AST:135 (125-140), p < 0.001) were diminished in the RT-group and preserved in the AST-group according to immunohistochemical scoring. Biochemical measurements of the corpus cavernosum revealed that the level of cGMP was significantly higher (93.15 (71.22-103.38) vs 70.8 (65-72.35) pmol/ml) in the AST-group, while lipid peroxidation was significantly higher (32.38 (29.07-36.98) vs 20.14 (17.85-21.04) nmol.mda/g) in the RT-group (p = 0.004, p < 0.001). This trial showed that AST preserved ICP/MAP values and histopathological-biochemical parameters after exposure to iR.