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American Heart Association

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Final ID: TH175

Contribution of Early-Life Obesity to Cavernosal and Pudendal Artery Dysfunction in Young Adult Rats Mediated by Secretin GPCRs and Senescence Pathways: Functional and Transcriptomic Insights

Abstract Body: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED); however, the long-term vascular consequences of early-life obesity on corpus cavernosum (CC) and pudendal artery (PA) function remain unclear. We hypothesized that early overnutrition promotes cellular senescence and tissue remodeling, impairing cavernosal and pudendal function in adulthood. Methods: Male Wistar rats were assigned at birth to small litter (SL; 3 pups/dam) to induce early overnutrition, or to normal litter (NL; 10 pups/dam). Both groups were weaned on postnatal day (PND) 21 and maintained on standard chow until PND160. Body weight, fat pad mass, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were recorded. Functional reactivity was assessed in the CC and PA via responses to phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (ACh), and electrical field stimulation (EFS). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RT-qPCR were performed to evaluate gene expression associated with senescence and remodeling. Results: Despite no differences in final body mass, SL rats exhibited increased retroperitoneal and perigonadal fat, along with elevated SBP (SL-120.5±1.20mmHg x NL-114.9±0.58mmHg). In the CC, EFS-induced relaxation was reduced in SL rats (16Hz: 2.39 ± 0.53mN x NL: 3.06 ± 0.28mN), while PE and EFS-induced contractions were enhanced and attenuated by indomethacin, suggesting prostanoid involvement. In the PA, ACh-induced relaxation was significantly impaired in SL rats (Emax: SL 28 ± 6% x NL 68 ± 5.5%), without changes in PE responses. RNA-seq revealed 124 differentially expressed genes (DEG’s) in the CC, and 99 DEG’s in the PA. Enrichment analysis shows significant involvement of pathways related to tissue remodeling and metabolic regulation, including fibrosis-associated genes (Col1a1, Fstl3, Adamts6, Thbs6), as well as key metabolic signaling cascades such as PI3K-Akt-mTOR and secretin GPCRs family. In the CC, RT-qPCR confirmed increased expression of Bgn and Col1a2, indicative of extracellular matrix remodeling, along with elevated Calcrl and reduced Vipr2 and Glp1/2r, supporting senescence-driven tissue remodeling. Conclusions: Early-life obesity is associated with long-term structural and functional impairments in the CC and PA, likely contributing to erectile dysfunction in adulthood. These findings suggest that early metabolic insults may drive senescence and fibrosis through secretin GPCR signaling. Ongoing studies aim to further clarify the metabolic and mechanistic links to erectile dysfunction.
  • Tomazini Goncalves, Tiago  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Mccarthy, Cam  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Carneiro, Fernando  ( University of Sao Paulo , Ribeirao Preto , Brazil )
  • Ceravolo, Graziela  ( State University of Londrina , Londrina , Brazil )
  • Webb, R Clinton  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Priviero, Fernanda  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Zhang, Tianxin  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Dos Passos, Rinaldo  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Vieira Dos Santos, Cintia  ( University of Sao Paulo , Ribeirao Preto , Brazil )
  • Moura, Kawane  ( State University of Londrina , Londrina , Brazil )
  • Townsend Jr, Paul  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Wilson, Emily  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Dos Anjos Moraes, Raiana  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Wenceslau, Camilla  ( University of South Carolina , Columbia , South Carolina , United States )
  • Author Disclosures:
    Tiago Tomazini Goncalves: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Cam McCarthy: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Fernando Carneiro: No Answer | Graziela Ceravolo: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | R Clinton Webb: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Fernanda Priviero: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Tianxin Zhang: No Answer | Rinaldo dos Passos: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Cintia Vieira dos Santos: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Kawane Moura: No Answer | Paul Townsend Jr: No Answer | Emily Wilson: No Answer | Raiana dos Anjos Moraes: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships | Camilla Wenceslau: DO NOT have relevant financial relationships
Meeting Info:
Session Info:

Poster Session 1 and Reception (includes TAC Poster Competition)

Thursday, 09/04/2025 , 05:30PM - 07:00PM

Poster Session

More abstracts on this topic:
More abstracts from these authors:
Cavernosal and Pudendal Dysfunction in Schlager Hypertensive (BPH/2J) Mice: Impaired α1-Adrenergic Contraction, Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation, and Piezo1 Channel Function

Dos Anjos Moraes Raiana, Priviero Fernanda, Pernomian Laena, Tomazini Goncalves Tiago, Dos Passos Rinaldo, Vieira Dos Santos Cintia, Zhang Tianxin, Silva-velasco Diana, Wenceslau Camilla, Webb R Clinton

Obesity in Early Life Leads to Endothelial and Erectile Dysfunction in Young Adult Rats.

Dos Passos Rinaldo, Silva Carneiro Fernando, Ceravolo Graziela, Webb R Clinton, Priviero Fernanda, Vieira Dos Santos Cintia, Moura Kawane, Townsend Jr Paul, Wilson Emily, Tomazini Goncalves Tiago, Dosanjos Moraes Raiana, Wenceslau Camilla, Mccarthy Cam

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