title: Cryopreserved penile tunica albuginea for allotransplantation: a morphological and ultrastructural investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peyronie's disease, a connective tissue disorder of penile tunica albuginea (TA) associated with penile deformity, curvature, pain, and erectile dysfunction, is best managed surgically, but suitable graft biomaterials are not available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether cryopreservation affects human TA in view of its use in allotransplants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects on TA samples of the two most widely used tissue cryopreservation methods were investigated using an ad hoc panel of histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural tests. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase method of end labeling (TUNEL) assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment of tissue integrity and arrangement of collagen and elastic fibers in thawed TA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both cryofixation methods provided TA tissue suitable for use as graft material. Significant ultrastructural changes, namely, a greater diameter of collagen fibrils, were detected in sections preserved in liquid nitrogen; nonetheless, such increase never exceeded the normal range. The comprehensive panel of assays used proved suitable to characterize the thawed tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human TA is suitable for cryopreservation; freezing at -80 °C provides better results than preservation in liquid nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. carla.loreto@unict.it
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferlosio
authors.forename: Rados
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djinovic
authors.forename: Dragoslav
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basic
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bettocchi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbagli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vespasiani
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caltabiano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sansalone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen