Polygala crotalarioides attenuates erectile dysfunction through improving Rho/ROCK signaling pathway mediated thyroid and gonadal function in kidney Yang deficiency ED rat

This study aimed to explore effectiveness and related mechanisms of Polygala crotalarioides in treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Hydrocortisone was used to establish a kidney-Yang deficiency ED rat model. Levels of triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), testosterone(T), estradiol(E2) and expressions of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 were determined. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect CD34 in penile tissues. Compared with normal rats, T3, T4, T, E2 levels in serum of ED rat model were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2 expressions were significantly higher (P < 0.05). High- and medium-dose of Polygala crotalarioides significantly attenuated erectile dysfunction, but low-doses of Polygala crotalarioides were ineffective. High and medium dose of Polygala crotalarioides and sildenafil significantly increased weight of ED rats compared to Model group (P < 0.05). T3, T4, E2, and T levels in low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose of Polygala crotalarioides group were increased compared to Model group (P < 0.05). Compared with Model group, RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 expressions in penile tissue of rats in low-, medium-, high-dose of Polygala crotalarioides group were reduced (P < 0.05). High-, medium-, and low-dose Polygala crotalarioides significantly increased CD34 compared with ED rat (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Polygala crotalarioides attenuated erectile dysfunction and improved thyroid and gonadal function by regulating Rho/ROCK pathway in kidney Yang-deficiency ED rat.