Effect of the icariin on endothelial microparticles, endothelial progenitor cells, platelets, and erectile function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

• Published in: Andrology (Oxford) 2022-03, Vol.10 (3), p.576-584
• Main Authors: Li, Xu, Yang, Hai‐Fan, Chen, Yong, Pei, Li‐Jun, Jiang, Rui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: endothelial microparticles; endothelial progenitor cell; erectile dysfunction; Hypertension; icariin; platelet; Rodents; spontaneously hypertensive rats
• ISSN: 2047-2919; 2047-2927
• DOI: 10.1111/andr.13127

Objectives To investigate the effect of icariin on endothelial microparticles, endothelial progenitor cells, platelets, and erectile function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Materials and methods Twelve 8‐week‐old healthy male Wistar‐Kyoto rats and 12 spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into four following groups: Wistar‐Kyoto control group (normal saline 1 ml/d given by gavage), Wistar‐Kyoto + icariin group (icariin 10 mg/kg × d dissolved in 1 ml normal saline and given by gavage), spontaneously hypertensive rats control group (normal saline 1 ml/d given by gavage), and spontaneously hypertensive rats + icariin group (icariin 10 mg/kg × d dissolved in 1 ml normal saline and given by gavage). Four weeks later, the maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure, platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, endothelial microparticles, endothelial progenitor cells, and vitronectin receptor were measured in each group. Results Under 3 or 5 V electrical stimulation, the maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rats + icariin group (0.23 ± 0.03, 0.38 ± 0.02) was significantly higher compared to the spontaneously hypertensive rats control group (0.12 ± 0.02, 0.20 ± 0.02) (p