The neuroprotective effect of platelet-rich plasma on erectile function in bilateral cavernous nerve injury rat model.
BACKGROUND
Neurogenic erectile dysfunction resulting from cavernous nerve (CN) injury is a major complication caused by radical prostatectomy. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the nerve-injured site has shown promising results for the nerve regeneration. However, the effects of PRP injection in corpus cavernosum after bilateral CN injury have never been investigated.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the neuroprotective effect of PRP injection in corpus cavernosum after bilateral CN injury.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group I underwent sham operation, while the remaining two groups underwent bilateral CN crush. Crush injury groups were treated at the time of injury with an application of PRP or normal saline only injection in the corpus cavernosum, respectively. Four weeks later, erectile function (EF) was assessed by CN electrosimulation, and CNs as well as penile tissue were collected for histology.


METHODS
Intracavernous pressure (ICP) monitored during electrical stimulation of CNs; myelinated axons number of CNs and dorsal penile nerve; collagen type change, number of apoptotic cells, and mRNA expression of caspase-3 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the corpus cavernosum.


RESULTS
Four weeks after surgery, in the vehicle-only group, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean maximal ICP than that in the sham group (P < 0.05). PRP treatments resulted in significant recovery of EF, as compared with the vehicle-only group (P < 0.05). Histologically, the PRP-treated group had a significant preservation of myelinated axons of CNs compared with the vehicle-only group (P < 0.05) and reduced the apoptotic index. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in the corpus cavernosum tissue was significantly decreased in the PRP group compared with the vehicle-only group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PRP injection in the corpus cavernosum increased the number of myelinated axons and facilitated recovery of EF in the bilateral CN injury rat model.
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chien-Chih
CC
Wu
Yi-No
YN
Wu
Hsiu-O
HO
Ho
Kuo-Chiang
KC
Chen
Ming-Thau
MT
Sheu
Han-Sun
HS
Chiang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053148:Caspase 3