Endothelial dysfunction is reported in erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endocan is a serum marker in some endothelial-related disorders. Thirty patients with erectile dysfunction (Group A) and 15 controls (Group B) were enrolled in the study. Group A is subdivided into Group AI including 15 diabetic patients with ED and group AII including 15 nondiabetic patients with ED. The erectile function was assessed in all subjects using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol and triglycerides (TG), serum endocan and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were assessed in all subjects. Penile Doppler ultrasound was carried out for Group A. IIEF-5 score, serum endocan level and cIMT were significantly different between the groups. Serum endocan was positively correlated with cIMT (r = 0.342, p = 0.22) and negatively correlated with peak systolic velocity (r = -0.588, p = 0.001) and IIEF (r = -0.532, p < 0.001) although lack of correlation was detected with end-diastolic velocity, TG and cholesterol. ROC curve assessment yielded a serum endocan cut-off point of >2,392.7 ng/ml to predict the cIMT in ED patients with 83.33% sensitivity and 66.67% specificity (AUC 0.741, 95% CI 0.558-0.867). Serum endocan can correlate with ED severity and cIMT. In addition, it has a predictive value for cardiovascular risk in ED patients.

IntroductionDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a multiorgan disease that leads to neurovascular complications that disturb the normal erectile function.AimThe aim of the current work was to study the early changes occurring in the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histopathological changes in penile tissues of uncontrolled diabetic rats.Materials and MethodsThis study was carried on 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into two main groups: group I (control, n = 10) and group II (diabetic, n = 40). Type I DM was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). The tissue level of CGRP and histopathological examination of rat penises were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after induction of DM.ResultsCGRP was higher in the diabetic group at 4, 6, and 8 weeks than in the control group. However, endothelial changes and decreased smooth muscles mass started only 2 weeks after induction of DM.ConclusionDeterioration of histopathological features of the uncontrolled diabetic rats corporeal tissues is time dependent. Furthermore, vascular changes seem to precede the neurological changes. El-Kamshoushi AAM, Abdallah WI, Helal SF, El Azhary NM, and Hassan EM. A study of the early changes of the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide and histopathology of penises of rats with experimentally induced type I diabetes mellitus by streptozocin. Sex Med 2013;1:21–29.