title: [Biochemical changes in cavernosal tissue caused by single sided cavernosal nerve resection and the effects of alpha lipoic acid on these changes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the most important complications of radical prostatectomy operation is erectile disfunction (ED). Oxidative stress patterns and apoptotic changes may happen in smooth muscles and endothelial cells of corpus cavernosum after neuropraxia or neurectomy. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) shows its antioxidant properties by eliminating free radicals. In this experimental study we investigated the effects of ALA on rehabilitation of cavernosal tissue and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) containing nerve fibers on erectile tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study four groups were formed by inclusion of 63 adult fertile rats. Control group (n: 9), sham operation group (n: 18), 18 rats underwent unilateral neurectomy of a 5-mm. segment of the cavernous nerve (group DI) and another 18 rats group which ALA received after unilateral neurectomy (group DII). Assessments were done 3 weeks after neurectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We assessed number of NOS containing nerve fibers via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase staining. According to NADPH diaphorase staining group DII significantly recovered comparing group DI (48.89±19.00 and 17.22±6.67 respectively) (p<0.05). SOD activity is reduced in both; group DI and group DII (31.42±6.06 and 40.38±4.24). Nitrite+nitrate levels were elevated significantly in both group DI and group DII (0.52±0.05 and 0.44±0.02 micromole/gr wet tissue respectively) when compared with other groups (p<0.05). There is no statistical difference between results of group DI and Group DII (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that neurectomy caused decrease of intracavernous pressure and number of NOS fibers. Neurectomy and surgical trauma caused oxidative stress in rat corpus cavernosum. As a potent antioxidant ALA has positive effects on cavernosal tissue regeneration and rehabilitation by reducing oxidative stress. In this aspect, ALA may have a potential advantage in penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Urología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Onsekiz Mart de Canakkale, Canakkale, Turquía. cabir1@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kocoglu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Resit Ersay
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anil Kurt
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ertung
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008063:Thioctic Acid