2017 Volume 65 Issue 1 Pages 37-44
Purpose : Erectile dysfunction (ED) decreases the quality of life. However, some patients are refractory to phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. This preliminary study investigated the possibility that autologous bone marrow-derived cells could improve the ED of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).
Materials and Methods : Erectile responses were induced by apomorphine. Bone marrow cells were harvested from femurs of SHRs, and following culturing and labeling, they were implanted autologously into the corpus cavernosum penis. Control SHRs received cell-free injections. At 7 days after the implantation, apomorphine-induced erectile responses were estimated. The presence of implanted bone marrow-derived cells in the corpora cavernosa and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were determined by microscopy and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Results : The number of the negative reactions for apomorphine in the SHRs was significantly higher compared to the Wister Kyoto (WKY) rats (P＝0.045). Ten of 15 cell-free control SHRs did not respond to apomorphine, while 8 of 9 cell-implanted SHRs responded. Significantly more cell-implanted SHRs responded to apomorphine than did cell-free SHRs (P＜0.013). The implanted cells formed clusters within the corpora cavernosa, and some expressed nNOS mRNA and protein.
Conclusions : Bone marrow-derived cells autologously implanted into the corpus cavernosum penis significantly increased the number of SHRs having erectile responses to apomorphine.
