Upregulation of miR-486 Expression in the Corpus Cavernosum of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Improves Erectile Function

Abstract

This study aims to investigate whether transfection of miR-486 in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) can improve erectile function and its mechanism. SHR penile cavernous smooth muscle cells were divided into control group, mimic negative control transfection group, inhibitor negative control transfection group, miR-486 mimic transfection group, and miR-486 inhibitor transfection group. miR-486 mimic (50 nM), miR-486 inhibitor (100 nM), and corresponding negative control preparation were transfected into the corresponding groups of cells. The mRNA expressions of miR-486, TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen III in each group were detected after transfection. Twelve 12-week-old healthy male SHR and 12 WKY rats were randomly divided into WKY control group, SHR control group, SHR + Agomir negative control (NC) group, and SHR + miR-486 Agomir group. In the SHR + miR-486 Agomir group, penile cavernosa was transfected with miR-486 agonist. Penile sponge internal pressure (ICPmax)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), the expression of miR-486, the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen (SM/C), and the expression of TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen III in penile cavernosum tissues were determined. Compared with the control group, the expressions of TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen Ⅲ in the miR-486 mimic transfection group of SHR rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells were significantly decreased, while those in the miR-486 inhibitor transfection group were significantly increased (P  < 0.05). The ratios of ICPmax/MAP and SM/C in the SHR group were significantly lower than those in the WKY group and in the SHR + miR-486 Agomir group were significantly higher than those in the SHR group and the SHR + Agomir NC group (P  < 0.05). The expressions of TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen Ⅲ in SHR group were significantly increased compared with those in WKY group, while those in SHR + miR-486 Agomir group were significantly lower than those in SHR group and SHR + Agomir NC group (P  < 0.05). The upregulation of the expression of miR-486 in the corpus cavernosum of SHR rats can inhibit fibrosis of the corpus cavernosum and improve erectile function.