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Effects of Intracavernous Injection of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Cavernous Nerve Regeneration in a Rat Model

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of intracavernous injection of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on cavernous nerve (CN) regeneration and functional status in a nerve-crush rat model. Thirty Sprague–Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: one group underwent sham operation, while two groups underwent bilateral CN crush. Crush-injury group was treated at the time of injury with intracavernous injection of ADSCs, or injured control group with no further intervention. Erectile function was assessed by CN electrostimulation after 3 months. Penile tissue and crushed nerves were collected for histology. Three months after surgery, in the group that underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean maximal intracavernous pressure (ICP) and maximal ICP per mean arterial pressure (MAP) with CN stimulation than those in the sham group. In the group with an immediate intracavernous injection of ADSCs, the mean maximal ICP and maximal ICP/MAP were significantly higher than those in the injured control group. Histologically, the group with the intracavernous injection of ADSCs had more myelinated axons of CNs and more NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibers than the injured control group but fewer than the sham group. Intracavernous injection of ADSCs treatment had beneficial effects on the smooth muscle/collagen ratio in the corpus cavernosum. These results show that the intracavernous injection of ADSCs to the site of CN-crush injury facilitates nerve regeneration and recovery of erectile function. Our research indicates that penile injection of ADSCs can improve recovery of erectile function in a rat model of neurogenic ED.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University support (Grant 63 to Xinmin Zheng).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Chengcheng Ying, Xinmin Zheng, Wanli Hu & Xinghuan Wang

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430081, China

    Mei Yang

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  1. Chengcheng Ying
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  2. Mei Yang
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  3. Xinmin Zheng
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  4. Wanli Hu
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  5. Xinghuan Wang
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Correspondence to Xinmin Zheng.

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Ying, C., Yang, M., Zheng, X. et al. Effects of Intracavernous Injection of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Cavernous Nerve Regeneration in a Rat Model. Cell Mol Neurobiol 33, 233–240 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-012-9890-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-012-9890-7

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