ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the apoptosis and hemodynamic changes of the penile tissue in diabetic and healthy rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen chronic diabetic and 10 matched normal control rats were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) 65 mg/kg and the diabetic model established. Eight weeks later the rats were killed, their haemoglobin Alc( HbAlc) measured, and their penises harvested. TUNEL assay (in situ nick end-labeling) and flow cytometry were used to analyse the penile cells for apoptosis. The thickness and diameter of the arteries were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TUNEL showed apoptosis in the chronic diabetic rats. Flow cytometric analysis showed the apoptotic peak in the penile cells of the chronic diabetic rats when compared with the controls (P < 0.05). There was significant difference between the diabetic and healthy rats. Morphological analysis revealed that the thickness of the artery wall increased while the artery diameter decreased in the diabetes group compared with the controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Diabetes can lead to increasing apoptosis of the penile tissue, cause a decrease in the penile artery diameter and the thickening of the penile artery wall.</p>