The role of apoptosis and the effect of epidermal growth factor on proapoptotic BNIP 3 in an experimental rat priapism model

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of apoptosis-inducing Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3(BNIP 3) and antiapoptotic epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the pathophysiology of experimental low-flow priapism.Materials and methods: Twenty-four adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups. Group I was the control group.Ischemic priapism was induced for 4 h in Group II rats. In Group III, intraperitoneal EGF at 10 µg/kg was given for 7 days beforeinduction of ischemic priapism for 4 h. In Group IV, intraperitoneal EGF at 20 µg/kg was given for 7 days before induction of ischemicpriapism for 4 h. The western blot method was used to determine BNIP 3 expression levels and the TUNEL method was used todetermine the apoptotic cells in the cavernosal tissue samples.Results: Although BNIP 3 expression levels were significantly higher in all three study groups compared to the controls, BNIP 3 wassignificantly higher in EGF-administered groups when compared to Group II (P < 0.05). The TUNEL score of group II was significantlyhigher than those of the other groups.Conclusion: Decreased apoptosis in cavernosal tissues obtained by antagonizing the apoptotic effect of BNIP 3 with EGF may facilitatethe development of new conservative treatment methods via those pathways.