Fig. 6: Mechanotransduction promotes PDE5i-nonresponding ED recovery by increasing YAP/TAZ-ADM activity.

Schematics of the corresponding experimental design (upper panel of a). Representative images (bottom panel of a) and quantifications (b) of the ICP from the sham (n = 10), BCNI (n = 8), and BCNI combined VED (VED)-treated rats (n = 10). The expression of the YAP/TAZ target gene Ctgf (c) from the sham (n = 10), BCNI (n = 8), and BCNI combined VED (VED)-treated rats (n = 10), western blots assessing the expression of TAZ (d) and Immunohistochemistry of TAZ (e). qRT-PCR (f) and Immunohistochemistry (g) assessing the expression of Adm from sham (n = 10), BCNI (n = 4), and BCNI combined VED (VED)-treated rats (n = 12). Schematics of the corresponding experimental design (upper panel of h). Representative images (bottom panel of h) and quantifications (i) of the ICP from the sham (n = 8), BCNI (n = 3), and BCNI combined SWT (SWT)-treated rats (n = 8). The expression of the YAP/TAZ target gene Ctgf (j) from the sham (n = 5), BCNI (n = 4), and BCNI combined SWT (SWT)-treated rats (n = 5), western blots assessing the expression of TAZ (k) and Immunohistochemistry of TAZ (l). qRT-PCR (m) and immunohistochemistry (n) assessing the expression of Adm from the sham (n = 12), BCNI (n = 8), and BCNI combined SWT(SWT) treated rats (n = 8). Representative images (o) and quantifications (p) of the ICP from the WT (VED untreated, n = 9; VED treated, n = 7), Yap cKO (VED untreated, n = 4; VED treated, n = 3), Cre^AAVY/T cKO (VED untreated, n = 6; VED treated, n = 6), Cre^AdY/T cKO (VED untreated, n = 3; VED treated, n = 4) mice treated with VED. q Distribution of different kinds of ED patients in VED therapy. The IIEF-5 score before and after the PDE5i non-responders, PDE5i side effects, PDE5i refusers or undefined with PDE5i ED patients treated with VED, P values were calculated by two-sides paired Student’s t test, the confidence interval is 95%. Box plots indicate median (middle line), 25th, 75th percentile (box), minima, maxima and all points. Bar charts are presented as the mean ± sem. The statistical analysis was calculated by two-sides unpaired Student’s t test (except q), the confidence interval is 95%. The point represents a mouse, rat or human biologically independent samples. Each experiment was repeated three independent times with similar results. Scale bars, 20 µm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.