Ameliorative effects of curcumin on microvascular complication streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat penis

Abstract

Background: Vascular diseases from diabetes typically result in conditions that interfere with the microvascular functions, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) of the penis. It is unrevealed which morphological changes the microvasculature of the penis may result from the treatment and supplementation of curcumin. Objective: This study aims to determine the effects of curcumin, the active compound of turmeric, on penile microvasculature in experimentally induced diabetic rats. Methods: Rat were divided into three groups, control (C) and diabetic (DM). Diabetic rats supplemented with curcumin (DMC) (200 mg/kg BW). For induction of a diabetic condition, rats were injected with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg BW). A histological study and vascular corrosion casting along with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine a morphological change of microvessels in the penis of rats after 8 weeks of experiments. Results: The histological investigations of penile tissue of DM group revealed thickly lined venous sinuses with smooth but sparse muscle layers. Dorsal arteries (DA) and deep dorsal veins (DV) of the penis were present of narrow lumen and showed thickening of collagen fibers at their wall of tunica media. An increasing thickness of collagen fibers was observed. Vascular corrosion casting revealed critically decreased diameters of DM venous sinus in the penis’ glans, which were observed as shrunken and partially lacking in the distal area of the glans. The diameter of venous sinuses in corpus cavernosum (CC) of DM rats were dilated and the density of venous sinuses was decreased. Interestingly, the signs of vessel restoration and improvement were presented by increasing diameters and recovering with healthy and nourished DA, DV, venous sinus at the area of the glans, and CC of the penis in DMC groups. Conclusion: The results have shown that the effects of curcumin could improve the destruction of the penile microvasculature in induced diabetic rats by STZ. © 2019 Functional Foods in Health and Disease. All rights reserved.