Library - Erectile dysfunction

J Sex Med. 2012 Jul;9(7):1834-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02753.x. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

Effects of intravenous injection of adipose-derived stem cells in a rat model of radiation therapy-induced erectile dysfunction.

Qiu X1Villalta JFerretti LFandel TMAlbersen MLin GDai YLue TFLin CS.

Author information

1Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0738, USA.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer is frequently associated with posttreatment erectile dysfunction (ED).

AIM:

To investigate whether injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can ameliorate RT-associated ED.

METHODS:

Thirty male rats were divided into three groups. The control + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group received tail-vein injection of PBS. The radiation + PBS group received radiation over the prostate and tail-vein injection of PBS. The radiation + ADSC group received radiation over the prostate and tail-vein injection of ADSCs, which were labeled with 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU). Seventeen weeks later,erectile function was evaluated by intracavernous pressure (ICP) in response to electrostimulation of cavernous nerves (CNs). Penile tissue and major pelvic ganglia (MPG) were examined by immunofluorescence (IF) and EdU staining.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Erectile function was measured by ICP. Protein expression was examined by IF, followed by image analysis and quantification.

RESULTS:

Radiation over the prostate caused a significant decrease in erectile function and in the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in penis and MPG. Cavernous smooth muscle (CSM) but not endothelial content was also reduced. Injection of ADSCs significantly restored erectile function, nNOS expression, and CSM content in the irradiated rats. EdU-positive cells were visible in MPG.

CONCLUSIONS:

Radiation appears to cause ED via CN injury. ADSC injection can restore erectile function via CN regeneration.

Int J Urol. 2014 Dec;21(12):1280-5. doi: 10.1111/iju.12585. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in treatment of erectile dysfunction: autologous or allogeneic cell sources?

Mangir N1Akbal CTarcan TSimsek FTurkeri L.

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1Department of Urology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the efficacy of intracavernosal injection of autologous and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells as potential treatment of erectile dysfunction in an experimental rat model.

METHODS:

Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rat paratesticular fat tissue. Bilateral cavernous nerve injury was carried out followed by immediate intracavernosal injection of either autologous or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stem cell lysates. One month after injection, erectile function was evaluated by means of intracavernosal pressure measurement. All rats were eventually killed, and penile tissues were taken for immunhistochemical and molecular investigation.

RESULTS:

A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The mean maximum intracavernosal pressure in the sham-operated, autologous and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell injection groups were significantly better compared with the vehicle injection group (80.5 [3.56], 71.1 [2.9] and 69.2 [3.2] vs 40.33 [4.4], respectively). Mean maximum intracavernosal pressure to mean arterial pressure ratios in the autologous and allogeneicmesenchymal stem cell and mesenchymal stem cell lysate injection groups were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intracavernosal injection of both autologous or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells improve erectile functions in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury. Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells might provide clinicians with ready to use, standardized and, in certain cases, more effective products. More studies focusing on long-term immunological aspects of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells are required.

KEYWORDS:

adipose derived; allogeneic; autologous; mesenchymal stem cells; neurogenic erectile dysfunction

J Sex Med. 2010 Jan;7(1 Pt 1):89-98.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction in the obese type 2 diabetic ZDF rat with adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

Garcia MM1Fandel TMLin GShindel AWBanie LLin CSLue TF.

Author information

1Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine-Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, San Francisco, CA 94143-0738, USA.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major complication of type 2 diabetes, and many diabetic men with ED are refractory to common ED therapies.

AIM:

To determine whether autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) injected into the penis of impotent type 2 diabetic rats improveerectile function.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Blood glucose levels, intracavernous pressure (ICP) increase upon cavernous nerve (CN) electrostimulation, and immunohistochemistry.

METHODS:

Twenty-two male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats were used. At 22 weeks of age, all the animals underwent unilateral CN electrostimulation and ICP measurement to confirm impotence. Paragonadal adipose tissue was harvested to procure ADSCs. The impotent animals were randomized to ADSC treatment and sham control groups. At 23 weeks of age, the treatment group animals underwent a penile injection of 1 million ADSCs; the control group animals received vehicle only. Erectile function studies were repeated at 26 weeks of age, followed by tissue harvest.

RESULTS:

The rats developed diabetes within the first 10 weeks of age. At 22 weeks of age, 20 out of the 22 rats presented with ED. The post-treatment ICP increase during CN stimulation and ICP increase/mean arterial pressure were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with controls. Three weeks after injection into the corpus cavernosum, only a small number of BrdU-labeled ADSCs was detectable within corporaltissue of the treatment group. There was a significant increase in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the penile dorsal nerve and in the number of endothelial cells in the corpora cavernosa of the rats in the treatment group.

CONCLUSION:

Autologous ADSCs injected into the penis were effective to improve erectile function and to alter the microarchitecture of the corpus cavernosum. Since the number of ADSCs retained in the corpus cavernosum is very small, we postulate that their paracrine function, not trans-differentiation to smooth muscle or endothelial cells, is responsible for the improvement in penile function.