Influence of lauric acid on the relaxation of corpus cavernosum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus is a global health challenge and has been recognised as a risk factor for erectile dysfunction. Dissatisfaction with standard medications has been reported by some patients, hence therapeutic plants are being considered as a viable alternative therapy, with their active components being investigated to create a standard regimen. Lauric acid is the most abundant constituent of coconut oil and is proposed to be responsible for its therapeutic properties. The corpus cavernosum plays an important role in erectile function with its relaxation favouring erection. This study thus sought to investigate the possible relaxant action and mechanism of lauric acid on the corpus cavernosum of diabetic male Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after which graded doses of lauric acid were administered orally to three groups of diabetic rats, once daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the corpus cavernosal tissues of the rat penis were extracted. Following phenylephrine or potassium chloride (KCl)—induced contraction, relaxation response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside was used to evaluate endothelium-dependent and nitric oxide-mediated relaxation, respectively. Results Relaxation response to acetylcholine, following pre-contraction with phenylephrine, was significantly decreased in the cavernosal tissues of diabetic untreated rats and was not significantly improved in lauric acid treated diabetic groups. Relaxation response to acetylcholine, following pre-contraction with KCl, was significantly decreased in the diabetic untreated group but was significantly improved in lauric acid treated diabetic groups at the lowest dose. Decreased relaxation response to sodium nitroprusside, following pre-contraction with phenylephrine in tissues of diabetic untreated rats, was significantly improved in lauric acid-treated diabetic groups at lower doses. Decreased relaxation response to sodium nitroprusside, following pre-contraction with KCl, was significantly improved in lauric acid-treated diabetic groups at all doses. Conclusion Lauric acid improved relaxation of corpus cavernosum muscle in diabetic male rats by enhancing nitric oxide-mediated relaxing action of sodium nitroprusside and possibly inhibiting KCl-induced contraction.