Morphological and molecular analysis of apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of rats submitted to a chronic alcoholism model1

• Autor(a) principal: Meirelles, Rogério José de Azevedo
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Neto, Fermino Sanches Lizarte, Cirino, Mucio Luiz de Assis, Novais, Paulo Cezar, Gula, Isabella Stracieri, Silva, Jairo Pinheiro da, Tazzima, Maria de Fátima Galli Sorita, Fazan, Valéria Paula Sassoli, Durand, Marina Toledo, Tirapelli, Daniela Pretti da Cunha [UNESP], de Carvalho, Camila Albuquerque Melo, Schimming, Bruno César [UNESP], Molina, Carlos Augusto Fernandes, Junior, Silvio Tucci, Tirapelli, Luis Fernando
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• DOI: 10.1590/s0102-865020200030000005
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0102-865020200030000005; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/201862
• topic: Apoptosis; Erectile Dysfunction; Ethanol; MicroRNAs; Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of chronic alcoholism on morphometry and apoptosis mechanism and correlate with miRNA-21 expression in the corpus cavernosum of rats. Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into two experimental groups: Control (C) and Alcoholic group (A). After two weeks of an adaptive phase, rats from group A received only ethanol solution (20%) during 7 weeks. The morphometric and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry analysis were performed in the corpus cavernosum. The miRNA-21 expression was analyzed in blood and cavernous tissue. Results: Chronic ethanol consumption decreased cavernosal smooth muscle area of alcoholic rats. The protein expression of caspase 3 in the corpus cavernosum was higher in A compared to the C group. There was no difference in the expression of miRNA-21 in serum and cavernous tissue between the groups. Conclusion: Chronic ethanol consumption reduced smooth muscle area and increased caspase 3 in the corpus cavernosum of rats, without altered serum and cavernosal miR-21 gene expression.