S1P1 Gene Transfection Improves Erectile Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

To investigate the relationship between the upregulated expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) in the corpus cavernosum and erectile function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Twelve-week-old healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: WKY, SHR, WKY transfection, and SHR transfection (n = 5). A lentiviral vector carrying the S1P1 gene was injected into the corpus cavernosum penis of rats in the transfection groups (1 × 109 TU/mL, 20 μL). After 1 week, the maximum penile intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP), nitric oxide (NO) content, and the expression of eNOS, P-eNOS, ROCK1, ROCK2, and S1P1 in the corpus cavernosum penis of rats in each group were measured. The ICPmax/MAP value was significantly higher in the SHR transfection group than in the SHR group under 3-V and 5-V electrical stimulations (P