Decorin as a new treatment alternative in Peyronie's disease: preliminary results in the rat model.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of decorin, a naturally occurring proteoglycan with anti-transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) activity, on the rat model of Peyronie's disease (PD). Twenty-five adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in three groups: I) TGF-β (0.5 μg) injected (n: 8); II) TGF-β injected and decorin treated (n: 8); and III) controls (n: 9). Decorin (0.5 μg per day) was given with intracavernous injection on the second, third, fourth and fifth day following TGF-β injection. All rats underwent electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve after 6 weeks. Intracavernosal and arterial blood pressures were measured during this procedure. Cross-sections of the rat penises were examined using Mason trichrome and H&E stains. Statistical analyses were carried out using one-way anova. Histopathological examinations confirmed the Peyronie's-like condition in TGF-β-injected rats, which exhibited a thickening of the tunica albuginea (TA), when compared to controls. Disorganisation of collagen on the TA was also prominent in TGF-β-injected rats, but not in decorin-treated and control rats. Decorin-treated rats showed significantly higher maximal intracavernosal pressure (MIP) responses to cavernous nerve stimulation, when compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that decorin antagonises the effects of TGF-β in the rat model of PD and prevents diminished erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation.
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey. takman36@gmail.com
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T
Akman
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A
Tefekli
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A
Armagan
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I
Kiliçaslan
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B
Özerman
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Tepeler
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Kadioğlu
D000818:Animals; D058575:Decorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D058575:Decorin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta