title: Effects of extra-corporeal shock waves on penile hemodynamics and histopathology in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of extra-corporeal shock wave (ESW) on the penile hemodynamics and histopathology in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random into 3 groups. ESW application was performed with a Siemens Lithostar with the rats under anesthesia lying prone on the balloon probe. Rats in Group I received a total of 1000 shocks at 18 kV and immediately underwent hemodynamic evaluation performed by direct electrostimulation of the cavernous nerve and measurement of intracavernous pressure (ICP). Rats in Group II received 3 times 1000 shocks at 18 kV at weekly intervals and hemodynamic evaluation was performed 1 month after the last ESW application. Group III served as the control. Histopathological examinations of penile tissues were done on Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin stained sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Penile hemodynamic evaluation showed a trend toward a diminished mean maximal ICP, duration of erection, ICP during the plateau phase and maximal ICP/ blood pressure ratio in Group I, although there was no significant significance. The mean latency period in Groups I and II was prolonged. Petechial bleeding within tunical layers and small foci of hemorrhage within the corpora cavernosa were observed in Group I. However, histopathological examination failed to reveal any significant differences between the groups in terms of smooth muscle content, tunical thickness, organization of collagen bundles and elastic fiber-lattice framework.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESW has certain damaging effects on the penis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical Faculty of Istanbul, University of Istanbul, Turkey. atefekli@anet.net.tr
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tefekli
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armagan
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celtik
authors.forename: Isi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kilicaslan
authors.forename: Asiye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nurten
authors.forename: Ates
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadioglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000528:radiation effects; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley