Age-related morphological changes in smooth muscle and collagen content in human corpus cavernosum.
BACKGROUND
Aging process has been related to erectile dysfunction (ED) possibly due to morphological changes in corpus cavernosum among many other causes.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate smooth muscle and collagen content in human corpus cavernosum and to correlate it to age.


METHODS
Cadaveric human cavernosal tissue was collected during the period of 1 year. Morphological analysis of a whole corpus cavernosum was performed in tissue sections stained with Masson's trichromic method to differentiate smooth muscle (red) from collagen (blue) content.


METHODS
Analysis was performed with specialized micrographs image analysis software. Pearson's correlation test was used to establish correlation between corpus cavernosum morphology (smooth muscle and collagen content) and age.


RESULTS
A total sample of 89 tissues from different male cadavers were analyzed. The average age of the sample was 49.2 ± 19.1 years, with a range between 14 and 90 years. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between age and the percentage of smooth muscle content (P = 0.012), direct correlation between age and percentage of collagen content (P = 0.019), and inverse correlation between age and the ratio of smooth muscle : collagen content (P = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
Age-related morphological changes in terms of smooth muscle and collagen content are observed in human corpus cavernosum as a possible contributing factor to the development of ED.
Ferrer
Julio Eduardo
JE
Urology, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia.
Velez
Juan Diego
JD
Herrera
Ana Milena
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology*; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
D003094:Collagen