Therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells-based microtissues on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells （ADSCs）-based microtissues （MTs） on erectile dysfunction （ED） in streptozotocin （STZ）-induced diabetic rats. Fifty-six 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of STZ （60 mg kg-1）, and 8 weeks later, the determined diabetic rats randomly received intracavernous （IC） injection of phosphate buffer solution （PBS）, ADSCs, or MTs. Another eight normal rats equally got IC injection of PBS. MTs were generated with a hanging drop method, and the injected cells were tracked in ADSC- and MT-injected rats. Four weeks after the treatments, intracavernous pressure （ICP）, histopathological changes in corpus cavernosum （CC）, and functional proteins were measured. Rat cytokine antibody array was used to detect ADSCs or MTs lysate. The results showed that MTs expressed vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）, nerve growth factor （NGF）, and tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 （TSG-6）. MTs injection had a higher retention than ADSCs injection and MTs treatment improved ICP, neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS） expression, smooth muscle, and endothelial contents in diabetic rats, ameliorated local inflammation in CC better. Thus, our findings demonstrate that IC injection of MTs improves erectile function and histopathological changes in STZ-induced diabetic rats and appears to be more promising than traditional ADSCs. The underlying mechanisms involve increased cell retention accompanied with neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory behaviors of the paracrine factors.

An alternative surgical technique for varicoceles:a preliminary experience of the microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-inferior or superficial epigastric vein anastomosis in symptomatic varicoceles associated with perineal pain

Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles,including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males.The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy.We aimed to assess an alternative technique(microsurgical spermatic[distal end]-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis)that preserves the normal blood flow pattern for varicocele treatment.We retrospectively analyzed 27 men with varicocele between October 2019 and July 2020.All patients underwent microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The prognosis was reviewed retrospectively with an additional survey conducted 3 months after surgery.The mean±standard deviation of the age was 26.1±7.3 years in patients with microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The maximum diameter of the varicocele vein,perineal pain score,sperm density,and forward movement of sperm improved over 3 months after surgery.Microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis is a safe and efficient surgical treatment for varicoceles.

Comparative study of intracavernous pressure and cavernous pathology after bilateral caver nous n erve crushing and resection in rats

This study aimed to compare the effects of bilateral cavernous nerve crushing(BCNC)and bilateral cavernous nerve resection(BCNR)on intracavernous pressure(ICP)and cavernous pathology in rats and to explore the optimal treatment time for the BCNC and BCNR models.Seventy-two male rats aged 12 weeks were randomly divided into three equal groups:Sham(both cavernous nerves exposed only),BCNC(BCN crushed for 2 min),and BCNR(5 mm of BCN resected).Erectile function was then measured at 1 week,3 weeks,and 5 weeks after nerve injury,and penile tissues were harvested for histological and molecular analyses by immunohistochemistry,immuno fluoresce nee,Western blot,and cytokine array.We found that erectile function parameters including the maximum,area,and slope of ICP/mean arterial pressure(MAP)significantly decreased after BCNR and BCNC at 1 week and 3 weeks.At 5 weeks,no significant differences were observed in ICP/MAP between the BCNC and Sham groups,whereas the ICP/MAP of the BCNR group remained significantly lower than that of the Sham group.After BCNC and BCNR,the amount of neuronal-nitric oxide synthase-positive fibers,smooth muscle cells,and endothelial cells decreased,whereas the amount of collage n III con tent increased.These pathological cha nges recovered over time,especially in the BCNC group.Our fin dings demonstrate that BCNC leads to acute and reversible erectile dysfunction,thus treatme nt time should be restricted to the first 3 weeks post-BCNC.In contrast,the self-healing ability of the BCNR model is poor,making it more suitable for long-term treatment research.