Identification of endothelial progenitor cells in the corpus cavernosum in rats.
The vascular wall resident progenitor cells seem to serve as a local reservoir of cells for vascular repair. It was hypothesized that the corpus cavernosum may contain vascular wall endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In this study, we investigated the identification and localization of EPCs in the corpus cavernosum in a rat model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to isolate EPCs from corpora cavernosum. To verify the existence and localization of EPCs, EPC-specific markers (CD34, Flk-1, and VE-cadherin) were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis and confocal microscopy. The EPC markers were mainly expressed in the cavernosal sinusoidal endothelial space. EPC-marker-positive cells made up about 3.31% of the corpus cavernosum of normal rat by FACS analysis. As shown by confocal microscopy, CD34+/Flk-1+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ positive cells existed in the corpus cavernosum. Our findings imply that regulation of corpus cavernosal EPCs may be a new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Department of Biology, BK21-Plus Research Team for Bioactive Control Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
Jun Sik
JS
Lee
Department of Urology and BK21 PLUS Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, 8 Hak-Dong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju 501-757, Republic of Korea.
In Sang
IS
Hwang
Department of Urology and BK21 PLUS Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, 8 Hak-Dong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju 501-757, Republic of Korea.
Hyun-Suk
HS
Lee
Department of Biology, BK21-Plus Research Team for Bioactive Control Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
Mi Eun
ME
Kim
Korea Basic Science Institute, Gwangju Center, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
Young-Woo
YW
Seo
Department of Urology and BK21 PLUS Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists, Chonnam National University Medical School, Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, 8 Hak-Dong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju 501-757, Republic of Korea.
Kwangsung
0000-0001-8827-162X
K
Park
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015820:Cadherins; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D000099152:Cadherin 5