Human Tissue Kallikrein 1 Improves Erectile Dysfunction of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats by Inhibition of Excessive Oxidative Stress and Activation of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS Pathway

Figure 6

hKLK1 could inhibit cavernous fibrosis in diabetic rats. Histologic features were evaluated by the expression and location of TGFβ1 and Masson trichrome stain (a, magnification: ×100). The positive area (%) of TGFβ1 (b) and the ratio of smooth muscle (red stain) to collagen (blue stain) contents in each penile section (c) were calculated to show the degree of cavernous fibrosis. Panels (d) and (e) show protein expressions of TGFβ1, smad2/3, Psmad2/3, CTGF, collagen I, and collagen IV normalized to β-actin level. The ratios of Psmad2/smad2 and Psmad3/smad3 were calculated to evaluate their activity in all groups (f). Each bar represents . , , and . hKLK1: human tissue kallikrein 1; TGFβ1: transforming growth factor-β1; CTGF: connective tissue growth factor; WTR: wild-type rats; TGR: transgenic rats; WTDM: diabetic wild-type rats; TGDM: diabetic transgenic rats; TGDMH: diabetic transgenic rats administrated with HOE140.

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