136 Human Cord Blood Endothelial Colony Forming Cells Induce Significant Recovery of Severe Erectile Dysfunction in Obese Type II Diabetic Rats

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is highly prevalent among men with type II diabetics. The etiology of ED in diabetes is multifactorial. Diabetic ED is usually severe and less responsive to pharmacological therapy compared to non-diabetic ED. We investigated the effect of intracavernous injection of human umbilical cord blood endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC) on ED in obese type II diabetes rat model. Erectile function was first assessed by cavernous nerve electrostimulation in Zucker Diabetic Fat (ZDF) rats aged 24 weeks to establish the baseline intracavernous pressure (ICP; 77.8±8.8mmHg). At the age of 28 weeks, severe ED was confirmed. A total of 12 ZDF rats at age 29 weeks were randomised into 3 groups: treatment with 1million (Group I) and 2million (Group II) ECFC, and control, phosphate buffered solution (PBS, Group III). The injected animals were maintained with daily immunosuppressant therapy (cyclosporine A, 10mg/kg) for 4 weeks following which erectile function and histological / immunohistochemical changes in endothelial, smooth muscle and neural function of penile tissue were evaluated.