Penile Cavernous Tissue Research Articles

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-containing nerve fibres in the penile cavernous tissue of green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).

The cavernous body of green monkeys contains many unmyelinated and few myelinated axons. The unmyelinated axons form terminals in the adventitia of the arteries, between trabecular muscle cells, in the interstitium, and close to endothelium cells of the sinuses. All terminals displayed predominantly" small clear vesicles" and very few "large granular vesicles"; "small granular vesicles" were not seen. However, in rabbit penises, terminals with many large granular vesicles are prominent. Immunohistochemistry (PAP technique) showed a dense network of VIP- and NPY-reactive fibres around the arteries and around trabecular muscles. The density of nerve fibres was particularly high around the subendothelial cushions of the helicine arteries. Double staining for NPY and VIP revealed that both peptides were colocalized. Immunocytochemistry (preembedding PAP technique) showed VIP- and NPY-reactivity in terminals with small clear vesicles; the reaction product was bound to the cytoplasmic face of different membrane types. Although the intracellular localization of the reaction product is probably due to artefactual displacement during preparation, the uniformity of the terminals questions the view that large and small granular vesicles in all species characterize peptidergic and noradrenergic terminals, respectively. The essential findings can be summarized as (1) a high degree of uniformity of nerve terminals, (2) colocalization of VIP and NPY, (3) heavy innervation of the subendothelial cushions of the helicine arteries, and (4) possible innervation of endothelial cells.

Free autogenous grafts into the penile cavernous tissue. An experimental study in dogs.

The behaviour of free autogenous fat, dermofat, and dermo grafts in the penile cavernous tissue was studied experimentally in dogs. Dermo-fat grafts were those most easily maipulated during surgery and allowed perfect haemostasis. All the grafts were gradually replaced by fibrous tissue causing subsequent scarring and contraction. This reaction was least noticeable with dermis grafts. Cavernous transformation of the adipose tissue was not observed. For the surgical correction of Peyronie's disease the use of a dermo-fat graft is suggested. The grafts should be slightly larger than necessary to allow for the subsequent fibrosis, and the layer of fat should be kept very thin.

Penile cavernous tissue: an electron microscopic study of its development in the rat.

Penile cavernous tissue: an electron microscopic study of its development in the rat.