Effects of castration and late hormonal replacement in the structure of rat corpora cavernosa.
The objective of the study was to evaluate, through quantitative methods,  the structural alterations in the corpora cavernosa of rats submitted to  orchiectomy as well as the role of late hormone replacement in overturning the  possible structural alterations. Twenty-five male rats were assigned into 5  groups with 5 animals each and treated as follows: ORCHIEC-1 = submitted to  orchiectomy and sacrificed after 1 month; C-1 = control group sacrificed after  1 month; ORCHIEC-2 = submitted to orchiectomy and sacrificed after 2 months;  C-2 = control group sacrificed after 2 months; and T = submitted to  orchiectomy, underwent testosterone replacement with testosterone undecanoate  (100 mg/kg) after 1 month, and sacrificed after 1 month of hormonal  replacement. Smooth muscle, collagen, and elastic system fibers of penile  corpora cavernosa were quantified. There was a significant decrease in the  absolute values of smooth muscle, sinusoidal space, and total area of corpora  cavernosa after 2 months in the castrated group when compared with controls.  Overall, regarding density, no significant differences were observed among the  groups. The hormonal replacement with testosterone was able to reverse the  alterations observed. The method used for this research allowed demonstrating  that absolute values are reliable to quantify the structural alterations of  corpora cavernosa structures. The results suggest that hormonal replacement,  even when instituted at a late stage, is effective in reversing the corpora  cavernosa's structural alterations produced by castration.
Urogenital Research Unit, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Alexandre F
AF
Miranda
Carla B M
CB
Gallo
Diogo B
DB
De Souza
Waldemar S
WS
Costa
Francisco J B
FJ
Sampaio
D000818:Animals; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010413:Penis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013739:Testosterone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate