Effect of low-energy shockwave therapy on angiogenic factors in the penile tissue of diabetic rats

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of low-energy shock wave therapy (LESWT) on angiogenesis factors at penile tissue in a diabetic rat model.

Material and methods: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats which were allocated into three equal groups were included study. Group 1 (control group) included 10 male rats which did not receive any treatment were randomly chosen to serve as normal control. The remaining rats were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes. Diabetic rats were divided into two equal group which constituted diabetic control, and LESWT treatment (DM+LESWT) group. Each rat in the DM+LESWT group received L-ESWT therapy. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression levels of penile tissue were evaluated.

Results: Following STZ dosing eNOS level dropped in the diabetic control group relative to the control group. Statistically significant increase in eNOS levels were seen in the LESWT+DM group. Similarly, in the diabetic control group STZ treatment decreased VEGF levels, while in the LESWT+DM group VEGF nearly approached to baseline levels. However variations in VEGF levels were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Mechanism action of ESWT in the penile tissue seems to involve angiogenic factors.