Objective: To explore the mechanism of androgen in improving erectile dysfunction in castrated rats. Methods: Forty 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group (Group A); castration group (Group B, in which rats were castrated); intervention groups (group C and D), in which rats were treated with different concentrations of testosterone undecanoate orally every day at 10 mg/kg (low dose) and 20 mg/kg (high dose), respectively after being castrated. Animals in group A and B were given 0.9% NS instead. After 8-week treatment, the level of serum testosterone, intra cavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were detected, and the expression of androgen receptor (AR)and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected in the penis by Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results: The level of serum testosterone was significantly lower in group B [(1.3±0.6) nmol/L] than in group A [(17.1±1.5) nmol/L] (P<0.05).After testosterone supplementation, serum testosterone levels in group C [(8.7±1.2) nmol/L] and group D [(15.5±1.6) nmol/L] were higher than that in group B (all P<0.05). Max ICP/MAP of group C and D were higher than that in group B (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that the expression levels of AR and VEGF in group B were significantly lower than those in group A, C and D, and group D > group C (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Androgen replacement therapy with testosterone undecanoate can improve the erectile function of castrated rats by protecting the integrity of endothelial cells through AR/VEGF pathway.
目的： 探究雄激素调节阴茎海绵体雄激素受体/血管内皮生长因子（AR/VEGF）改善去势大鼠勃起功能障碍的机制。 方法： 40只健康8周龄SD雄性大鼠随机分成4组：A组为正常对照组；B组为实验组，给予手术切除双侧睾丸；C、D组为干预组，手术去势后每天给予不同浓度的十一酸睾酮（安特尔）灌胃（C组：10 mg/kg，D组：20 mg/kg）。治疗8周后，检测大鼠血清睾酮浓度，海绵体测压评价大鼠勃起功能，采用免疫组化染色和Western印迹检测各组大鼠阴茎海绵体AR和VEGF的表达。 结果： B组血清睾酮水平[（1.3±0.6）nmol/L]明显低于A组[（17.1±1.5）nmol/L]（P<0.05），补充睾酮后，C组[（8.7±1.2）nmol/L]、D组[（15.5±1.6）nmol/L]血清睾酮水平高于B组，海绵体测压显示B组最大阴茎海绵体内压/平均动脉压（Max ICP/MAP）明显小于A组、C组、D组，D组>C组（均P<0.05）；免疫组化和Western印迹显示B组AR、VEGF蛋白表达水平明显小于A组、C组、D组，D组>C组（均P<0.05）。 结论： 应用十一酸睾酮进行雄激素替代治疗可以通过调节AR/VEGF表达保护内皮细胞完整性从而改善去势大鼠勃起功能。.
Keywords: Androgen; Castration; Endothelium; Erectile dysfunction.