title: Adipocyte accumulation in corpus cavernosum: First clinical evidence and pathophysiological implications in erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Animal models have shown that erectile dysfunction is associated with adipocyte accumulation under tunica albugínea, which could be involved in venous leakage and loss of penile rigidity. In the current sudy, we compared the histology of the penile sub-albuginean region of drug-refractory erectile dysfunction patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation with potent patients with Peyronie's disease undergoing curvature correction procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen refractory erectile dysfunction patients and fourteen potent patients with Peyronie's disease were recruited. Sub-albuginean tissue samples were taken in each surgery. An expert uropathologist analysed each section. A bivariate analysis was performed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios; P value<.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients (11/17) in the case group presented cavernous fat cell accumulation, while only one patient (1/14) in the control group presented this finding (P<.05). Adjusted odds ratio for erectile dysfunction was 40.72; 95% CI 2.28-727.29 (P=.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different studies have shown that androgen disruption could be involved in penile structural changes, leading to trabecular smooth muscle apoptosis and trans or de-differentiation into adipocytes. This is the first prospective study in humans to report an association between erectile dysfunction and sub-albuginean adipocyte accumulation. Venous leakage secondary to this phenomenon could be a factor in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction, especially in patients that do not respond to medical therapy.
authors: Departamento de Andrología, Fundación Puigvert /Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: jose.vinay@gmail.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Vinay
authors: Departamento de Andrología, Fundación Puigvert /Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sarquella
authors: Departamento de Andrología, Fundación Puigvert /Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sanchez
authors: Sección de Patología, Fundación Puigvert /Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Algaba
authors: Departamento de Patología, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile , Santiago, Chile.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Gallegos
authors: Departamento de Andrología, Fundación Puigvert /Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ruiz-Castañe
authors: Departamento de Urología, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Urología, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Palma
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000473:pathology; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Acumulación de adipocitos; Adipocyte accumulation; Alteración en andrógenos; Androgen disruption; Disfunción eréctil; Erectile dysfunction