Photobiomodulation therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction targeting neuroinflammation and neurovascular...

Erectile dysfunction (ED) in diabetes often resists phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors due to neuropathy and vasculopathy, both worsened by neuroinflammation. This study evaluated light-emitting diode (LED) therapy's effects on diabetes-induced neurovascular damage using a diabetic mouse model. Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice with streptozotocin, followed by treatment with RED (660 nm) and near-infrared (NIR; 830 nm) LED light, separately and combined, for ten days over two weeks. Functional and molecular analyses assessed neurovascular regeneration. LED therapy significantly improved intra-cavernous pressure (ICP), with combined RED and NIR wavelengths restoring ICP to 90% of normal levels, indicating enhanced nerve and vascular function. Histological analyses showed increased endothelial cell density, angiogenesis, pericyte recruitment, and neural regeneration. Molecular findings revealed upregulation of neurotrophic factors (NGF, NT-3, BDNF), angiogenic markers (VEGF, eNOS), and phosphorylated PI3K, alongside reduced apoptosis and increased cell proliferation. These results demonstrate that LED therapy mitigates diabetes-induced neuropathy and vasculopathy by enhancing neurovascular repair and modulating neuroinflammatory pathways. The study highlights the potential of combined RED and NIR LED therapy as a non-invasive treatment for diabetic ED and related neurovascular complications, offering a promising approach to improving patient outcomes.