The Role of Long Term Label-Retaining Cells in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction by Vacuum Erectile Device. Issue 6 (11th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Baibing; Luse, Dustin; Cao, Yanna; Ko, Tien; Wang, Run
• Is Part Of: Sexual medicine. Volume 9:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 100442
• Page End: 100442
• Publication Date: 2021-10-11
• Subjects: Erectile Dysfunction -- Bilateral Cavernous Nerve Crush -- Vacuum Erectile Device -- Label-Retaining Cells -- Stem Cells; Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.69005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-1161

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Vacuum erectile device (VED) therapy is commonly used for penile rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy, however, the underlying mechanism of this effect is not fully understood. Aim: To evaluate the presence of label-retaining cells (LRCs), cells with long-term retention of 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling and recognized as adult stem cells or progenitor-like cells, in cavernous tissue after VED treatment using a BCNC rat model. Methods: Postnatal pups (1 day old) of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally injected with EdU (50 ug/g, BID for 3 days) and BCNC surgery was conducted at 6 weeks old (designated as natal-labeled rats). Adult SD rats underwent BCNC surgery and EdU injection (50 ug/g, once) after surgery (designated as adult-labeled rats). One week after surgery, both natal- and adult-labeled rats received daily VED treatment for 4 weeks. Intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured for all rats and then the penile tissue was harvested. The ratio of ICP/MAP was calculated to represent erectile function. Penile tissue was examined by immunofluorescence staining to detect EdU positive cells. Main Outcome Measures: The ratio of Intracavernous pressure (ICP) /MAP and the percentage of EdU positive cells were measured. Results: The erectile function was impaired after BCNC and partially restored after VED treatment in both natal- and adult-labeled rats ( P < .05). There was no difference in the percentage of EdU positive cells in natal-labeled rat cavernous tissue in BCNC group compared with VED group. Among the adult-labeled rats, the percentage of EdU positive cells increased in BCNC group ( P < .05) but didn't change significantly after VED treatment ( P = .35). Conclusion: LRCs may play a limited role in the restoration of erectile dysfunction through VED treatment after BCNC.