Abstract

Nerve injury after radical prostatectomy leads to erectile dysfunction in over half of treated patients. Despite contemporary advancements, current therapies are inefficient. Recently, experiments utilizing stem cell therapy have shown promising outcomes. In this study, using a rat model of cavernosal nerve injury (CNI), we sought to discover the effect of intracorporal injection (IC) of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) on erectile function (EF). Sprague-Dawly rats were randomized into four groups of rats (n=8/group): 1) EXP-1 group in which the animals underwent laparotomy (Lap) with CNI and IC injection of ADSC at the time of surgery. 2) EXP-2 group in which the rats underwent Lap with CNI and IC injection of ADSC both at the time of surgery and three weeks post CNI. 3) Crush group underwent Lap with CNI, and 4) The Sham control group underwent Lap and immediate closure. Six weeks after CNI, all four groups received EF evaluation via cavernosal nerve stimulation at 2.5V, 5V, and 7.5V and measurement of the intracorporal pressure response. Penile and major pelvic ganglion tissue was harvested for immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis.

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