title: Novel double-layer Silastic testicular prosthesis with controlled release of testosteronein vitro, and its effects on castrated rats.
abstract: Testicular prostheses have been used to deal with anorchia for nearly 80 years. Here, we evaluated a novel testicular prosthesis that can controllably release hormones to maintain physiological levels of testosterone in vivo for a long time. Silastic testicular prostheses with controlled release of testosterone (STPT) with different dosages of testosterone undecanoate (TU) were prepared and implanted into castrated Sprague-Dawley rats. TU oil was applied by oral administration to a separate group of castrated rats. Castrated untreated and sham-operated groups were used as controls. Serum samples from every group were collected to measure the levels of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH). Maximum intracavernous penile pressure (ICPmax) was recorded. The prostates and seminal vesicles were weighed and subjected to histology, and a terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to evaluate apoptosis. Our results revealed that the weights of these tissues and the levels of T and LH showed significant statistical differences in the oral administration and TU replacement groups compared with the castrated group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the ICPmax, histology and TUNEL staining for apoptosis, showed no significant differences in the hormone replacement groups implanted with medium and high doses of STPT. Our results suggested that this new STPT could release TU stably through its double semi-permeable membranes with excellent biocompatibility. The study provides a new approach for testosterone replacement therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.|Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Controlled Release Laboratory, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.|Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.|Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Ru-Hui
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.|Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.|Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002369:Castration; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004343:Drug Implants; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004343:Drug Implants; D013739:Testosterone; C013830:baysilon; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate