Figure 7
Inhibition of Ang1 and VEGF diminishes VASH1 protein-mediated angiogenesis and recovery of erectile function in the diabetic mice. (a) Representative intracavernous (ICP) responses for the age-matched control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice stimulated at 2 weeks after repeated intracavernous injections of PBS + dimeric Fc (day − 3 and 0), VASH1 protein (day − 3 and 0; 4 μg/20 μL), VASH1 protein + soluble Tie2-Fc(sTie2-Fc; 4 μg/20 μL), or VASH1 protein + VEGF trap (4 mg/kg in 20 µL PBS). The stimulus interval is indicated by a solid bar. (b,c) Ratios of mean maximal ICP and total ICP (area under the curve) to mean systolic blood pressure (MSBP) were calculated for each group. Each bar depicts the mean (± SE) values from N = 6 animals per group. **P < 0.01 vs. control group. #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01 vs. PBS- + dimeric Fc-treated group. †P < 0.05, ††P < 0.01, and †††P < 0.001 vs. VASH1-treated DM group. (d) PECAM-1 (red) and NG2 (green) staining in cavernous tissue from each group of animals. Scale bar = 100 µm. (e,f) Quantification of cavernous endothelial cell and pericyte content by Image J. Each bar depicts the mean (± SE) values from N = 6 animals per group. ***P < 0.001 vs. control group. ###P < 0.001 vs. PBS- + dimeric Fc-treated group. †††P < 0.001 vs. VASH1 treated DM group. DM diabetes mellitus.
