title: Synergistic effect of mesenchymal stem cells infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing human BDNF on erectile function in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the combined role of mescenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing human BDNF (rAd/hBDNF) on the erectile dysfunction in rat with cavernous nerve injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats divided into 4 groups: control group, bilateral cavernous nerve crushing group (BCNC group), BCNC with MSCs group and BCNC with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group. After 4-week, functional assessment was done. PKH26 and BDNF staining of major pelvic ganglion and masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum were performed. Western blot analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was done in corpus cavernosum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 weeks, BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups showed significantly well-preserved erectile function compared with BCNC group. Moreover, the erectile function of MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group was significantly well-preserved than BCNC with MSCs group. The smooth muscle of corpus cavernosum was significantly preserved in BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups compared with BCNC group. More preservation of smooth muscle was observed in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone. Significant increase expression of eNOS and nNOS was noted in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The erectile function was more preserved after injection with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF in rat with ED caused by cavernous nerve injury. Therefore, the use of MSC infected with rAd/hBDNF may have a better treatment effect on ED cause by cavernous nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sae Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Y-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Hyuk Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung-Hoo
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ji Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-Kon
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sae Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Brain-derived growth factor; Erectile dysfunction; Stem cells