Evaluation of vascular smooth muscle and corpus cavernosum on hypercholesterolemia. Is resveratrol promising on erectile dysfunction?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of hypercholesterolemia in thoracic aorta (TA), mesenteric artery (MA), renal artery (RA), and corpus cavernosum (CC) isolated from cholesterol-fed rabbits. For determination of the maximum detrimental effect, vasorelaxation and vasoconstriction results of arteries and CC have been compared. Animals were fed with a diet that contained 2% w/w cholesterol and 2% w/w high cholesterol plus resveratrol (4 mg kg–1 per day) for 6-week duration. Total cholesterol levels in the plasma were measured. Vascular and endothelial functions in RA, TA, MA, and CC were assessed by isolated tissue bath with cumulative doses of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. The statistical significance of differences of groups was analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA or Student's t-test. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. There have been no significant changes on plasma total cholesterol levels between cholesterol and cholesterol + resveratrol-treated groups. Vasorelaxation responses to acetylcholine in resveratrol-treated group showed significant changes when compared with hypercholesterolemic group. No statistically significant differences were seen between non-receptor-mediated vasorelaxation responses between the three groups. Resveratrol might be an effective treatment in the prevention of atherosclerotic changes in arteries and CC. The initial effects of hypercholesterolemia on erectile dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction may be precluded with resveratrol. This protective effect may also ensure the prevention of coronary arterial diseases and renovascular diseases in hypercholesterolemic patients.