Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira (Jun 2020)

Morphological and molecular analysis of apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of rats submitted to a chronic alcoholism model

  • Rogério José de Azevedo Meirelles,
  • Fermino Sanches Lizarte Neto,
  • Mucio Luiz de Assis Cirino,
  • Paulo Cezar Novais,
  • Isabella Stracieri Gula,
  • Jairo Pinheiro da Silva,
  • Maria de Fátima Galli Sorita Tazzima,
  • Valéria Paula Sassoli Fazan,
  • Marina Toledo Durand,
  • Daniela Pretti da Cunha Tirapelli,
  • Camila Albuquerque Melo de Carvalho,
  • Bruno César Schimming,
  • Carlos Augusto Fernandes Molina,
  • Silvio Tucci Junior,
  • Luis Fernando Tirapelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-865020200030000005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 35, no. 3

Abstract

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Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of chronic alcoholism on morphometry and apoptosis mechanism and correlate with miRNA-21 expression in the corpus cavernosum of rats. Methods Twenty-four rats were divided into two experimental groups: Control (C) and Alcoholic group (A). After two weeks of an adaptive phase, rats from group A received only ethanol solution (20%) during 7 weeks. The morphometric and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry analysis were performed in the corpus cavernosum. The miRNA-21 expression was analyzed in blood and cavernous tissue. Results Chronic ethanol consumption decreased cavernosal smooth muscle area of alcoholic rats. The protein expression of caspase 3 in the corpus cavernosum was higher in A compared to the C group. There was no difference in the expression of miRNA-21 in serum and cavernous tissue between the groups. Conclusion Chronic ethanol consumption reduced smooth muscle area and increased caspase 3 in the corpus cavernosum of rats, without altered serum and cavernosal miR-21 gene expression.

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