NEW ORLEANS, LA (UroToday.com) - American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) New Orleans - 2006
In light of the fact that VEGF has shown to improve overall endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction in models of ED and (ED) decreases the quality of life in more than 70% of diabetic men, the authors investigate the ability to achieve in in-vivo gene transfection of VEGF in the rat model.

Diabetes was induced and confirmed with a single injection of streptozotocin. Animals then received intracavernous injection with 10 ug plasmid DNA encoding a fusion VEGF/green fluorescent protein (GFP) complex .

Fluorescence microscopy revealed expression of GFP in all treated animals. Western blot analysis confirmed expression of the GFP/VEGF fusion protein, and RT-PCR confirmed the presence of mRNA transcript within the cavernosal tissue of all treated rats and immunohistochemistry analysis of the cavernosal tissue showed an increased number of smooth muscle cells compared to the diabetic controls The authors concluded that this model achieved in-vivo transfection of VEGF into rat corpus cavernosum using a non-viral gene delivery system. Expression of the transected VEGF leads to an overall improvement of maximal intracorporeal cavernous pressure and smooth muscle content.

Editorial Comments;
This study appears to demonstrate the potential for gene manipulation as a therapeutic modality for Erectile Dysfunction. As opposed to currently available therapies, gene therapy may provide disease specific rather than empiric therapies. Clearly, the rate limiting step is bringing such an approach into clinical trials.

J. N. Mills, J. Dall'era, S. Koul, J. Myers, R. B. Meacham, H. Koul. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

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Written by Harris M. Nagler, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday.

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