MP43-07 PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TADALAFIL IN A NOVEL RAT MODEL OF CHRONIC PENILE ISCHEMIA

sham, CN crushed, CN crushed with SHH treatment, CN crushed with BSA treatment and CN cut (n1⁄424) adult (P120) Sprague Dawley rats. RESULTS: Our results show that SHH and its receptors patched (PTCH1) and smoothened (SMO) are localized in normal PG neurons, and SMO undergoes anterograde transport by the CN to signal to down stream targets. When the CN is crushed, PG neurons die, SHH protein is decreased in neurons but not the associated glia, SMO localization changes to the neuronal cell surface and is not transported by the CN. With SHH PA treatment, PG neurons remain intact with normal SHH pathway signaling. SHH is taken up at the injury site and undergoes retrograde transport to PG neurons, allowing SMO transport to occur as under normal conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that SHH is neuroprotective and promotes CN regeneration by preventing neuronal death in the PG and maintaining normal signaling mechanisms to down stream targets. This study is significant because understanding how regeneration occurs can provide novel avenues to further enhance regeneration and to prevent ED.