The effects of chard extract against streptozotocin-induced erectile dysfunction in rats.

Background and Aims: To analyze the potential therapeutic effects of chard against streptozotocin (STZ) -induced erectile dysfunction (ED) and oxidative damage in the corpus cavernousum in rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300g) were allocated into groups as follows: control, diabetic, diabetic + chard, and diabetic + insulin. In order to induce diabetes, rats were given 65 mg/kg intraperitoneal streptozotocin. Chard extract was given orally at a dose 2 g/kg for 45 days beginning on 15th days. Sixty days after STZ injection, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) was measured and rats were decapitated. Blood samples were obtained for glucose, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity while cavernous tissues were taken to analyze luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence (CL), malondialdehyde and glutathione and along with histological analysis. Results: The results revealed that diabetes caused significant decreases in cavernosal tissue glutathione levels, while luminol and lucigenin CL, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated. Plasma glucose, ADMA levels, and LDH activity were also found to be increased in diabetic group. On the other hand, both chard extract and insulin treatment reversed these biochemical parameters significantly. Furthermore, it was found that the ICP value examined for evaluating erectile functions were lower in the diabetic group, but increased in both treatment groups which were similar to the control values. Conclusion: According to our results, chard extract, similar to insulin, reduced diabetes-induced oxidative damage in cavernosal tissue and protected erectile functions. This effects may be attributed its hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]