Research Article
Cysteine-Rich Whey Protein Isolate (CR-WPI) Ameliorates Erectile Dysfunction by Diminishing Oxidative Stress via DDAH/ADMA/NOS Pathway
Figure 4
CR-WPI treatment for 60 days increases the smooth muscle content of the corpus cavernosum. (a) Representative immunofluorescence staining of the α-SMA-positive corpus cavernosum positive for α-SMA in the sham, DM, 100 mg kg-1 CR-WPI, and 300 mg kg-1 CR-WPI groups. (b) Masson’s trichrome staining of penile tissue in four groups after different treatments. Smooth muscle and collagen in the corpus cavernosum are stained red and blue, respectively. (c) The effect of CR-WPI on the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen and protein expression of α-SMA (ratio to β-actin) in the corpus cavernosum. Bars denote the mean densitometry ratio between smooth muscle content and collagen content per field. compared to the DM group and # and ## compared to the sham group.