title: Rat cavernous nerve reconstruction with CD133+ cells derived from human bone marrow.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction remains a major complication after surgery of pelvic organs, especially after radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effect of endothelial progenitor cells on the regeneration of cavernous nerves in a rat injury model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2 mm length of the right and left cavernous nerves of 8-week-old male nude rats were excised. Alginate gel sponge sheets supplemented with 1 × 10(4) CD133+ cells derived from human bone marrow were then placed over the gaps on both sides (CD group). The same experiments were performed on sham-operated rats (SH group), rats with only the nerve excision (EX group), and rats with alginate gel sheets placed on the injured nerves (AL group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunofluorescence staining and molecular evaluation were performed 4 days later. Functional and histological evaluations were performed 12 weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intracavernous pressure elicited by electrical stimulation and the neuronal nitric oxide synthase-positive area in surrounding tissues of the prostate was significantly greater in the CD group. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that CD133+ cells were assimilated as vascular endothelial cells, and the real-time polymerase chain reaction showed upregulation of nerve growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the alginate gel sponge sheets of the CD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transplantation of CD133+ cells accelerated the functional and histological recovery in this cavernous nerve injury model, and the recovery mechanism is thought to be angiogenesis and upregulation of growth factors. CD133+ cells could be an optional treatment for cavernous nerve injury after prostatectomy in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kanao
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teishima
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsubara
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000464:Alginates; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000628:therapy; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D010455:Peptides; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011923:Rats, Nude; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000464:Alginates; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; C000606025:Prom1 protein, rat; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
keywords: Alginate Sheet; CD133+; Cavernous Nerve; Cell Therapy; Erectile Dysfunction; Radical Prostatectomy