Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently associated to hypertension and antihypertensive drugs; however, the penile morphological aspects on these situations are poorly known. Aim Evaluate the penile morphology of untreated hypertensive rats and rats treated with enalapril or sildenafil alone or in combination to verify the hypothesis that morphological alterations promoted by hypertension on corpus cavernosum could be ameliorated by the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Methods Fifty male rats were assigned into five groups: normotensive rats, untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and SHR treated with enalapril or sildenafil alone or in combination. Blood pressure was measured weekly. At the conclusion of the study, the rats were euthanized, and their penises were collected for histomorphometrical analysis. Main Outcome Measures The cross-sectional areas of the penis, tunica albuginea, and corpus cavernosum were measured. The density of the corpus cavernosum structures was quantified. Results Both groups of SHR rats treated with enalapril became normotensive. Untreated SHR showed no difference in penile and cavernosal cross-sectional area compared with normotensive rats; however, those rats treated with enalapril or sildenafil alone demonstrated an increase in these parameters. Rats receiving combination therapy showed no cross-sectional area differences compared with normotensive rats. Cavernosal connective tissue density was increased, while the sinusoidal spaces were diminished in untreated SHR. All treatments were effective in maintaining connective tissue density in comparison with normotensive animals. Cavernosal smooth muscle density was similar in all groups, with the exception of the combination therapy group, which demonstrated a reduction in smooth muscle. Conclusions Hypertension promoted structural alterations in the corpus cavernosum that may be related to ED. Enalapril- and sildenafil-treated animals had preservation of normal corpus cavernosum structure and an increase in penile and cavernosal cross-sectional area. The combination of these drugs showed less benefit than individual use.

We evaluated, by qualitative and quantitative methods, the structural alterations in the bladder wall of rats submitted to surgical castration, as well as the role of hormone replacement in reversing the possible structural alterations. Twenty-four 12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The animals were divided into 3 groups comprising 8 animals each and treated as follows. Members of group CONTR (control) underwent a sham operation only and were sacrificed after 2 months. Members of group ORCH (orchiectomy) underwent bilateral orchiectomy and were sacrificed after 2 months. Members of group ORCH+TEST (testosterone) underwent orchiectomy, received testosterone replacement after 1 month, and were sacrificed 1 month later. We performed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of collagen by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, biochemistry, and a histomorphometric analysis of smooth muscle and elastic fibers in the 3 groups. The results showed a significant decrease in absolute values of elastic fibers in the castrated group. The histomorphometric analysis of epithelial height did not show differences among the groups. There was no statistical difference in quantitative analysis of collagen, either by histomorphometry or by biochemistry. Also, there was no difference in the smooth muscle cells. However, the qualitative analysis revealed differences in collagen (castrated group) when compared with controls and with rats submitted to hormone replacement. Hormone replacement with testosterone was able to revert the alterations observed. The findings suggest that hormone replacement, even when instituted at a late stage, is effective in reversing the bladder wall alterations produced by secondary hypogonadism.

The use of morphometrical tools in biomedical research permits the accurate comparison of specimens subjected to different conditions, and the surface density of structures is commonly used for this purpose. The traditional point-counting method is reliable but time-consuming, with computer-aided methods being proposed as an alternative. The aim of this study was to compare the surface density data of penile corpus cavernosum trabecular smooth muscle in different groups of rats, measured by two observers using the point-counting or color-based segmentation method. Ten normotensive and 10 hypertensive male rats were used in this study. Rat penises were processed to obtain smooth muscle immunostained histological slices and photomicrographs captured for analysis. The smooth muscle surface density was measured in both groups by two different observers by the point-counting method and by the color-based segmentation method. Hypertensive rats showed an increase in smooth muscle surface density by the two methods, and no difference was found between the results of the two observers. However, surface density values were higher by the point-counting method. The use of either method did not influence the final interpretation of the results, and both proved to have adequate reproducibility. However, as differences were found between the two methods, results obtained by either method should not be compared.

In this animal model hypertension caused morphological changes in the testis and upon spermatozoid production. Enalapril treatment partially protected the testicles from these alterations, restoring normal spermatozoid production.

Purpose:To evaluate if late hormonal replacement is able to recover the prostatic tissue modified by androgenic deprivation.Materials and Methods:24 rats were assigned into a Sham group; an androgen deficient group, submitted to bilateral orchiectomy (Orch); and a group submitted to bilateral orchiectomy followed by testosterone replacement therapy (Orch+T). After 60 days from surgery blood was collected for determination of testosterone levels and the ventral prostate was collected for quantitative and qualitative microscopic analysis. The acinar epithelium height, the number of mast cells per field, and the densities of collagen fibers and acinar lumen were analyzed by stereological methods under light microscopy. The muscle fibers and types of collagen fibers were qualitatively assessed by scanning electron microscopy and polarization microscopy.Results:Hormone depletion (in group Orch) and return to normal levels (in group Orch+T) were effective as verified by serum testosterone analysis. The androgen deprivation promoted several alterations in the prostate: the acinar epithelium height diminished from 16.58±0.47 to 11.48±0.29μm; the number of mast cells per field presented increased from 0.45±0.07 to 2.83±0.25; collagen fibers density increased from 5.83±0.92 to 24.70±1.56%; and acinar lumen density decreased from 36.78±2.14 to 16.47±1.31%. Smooth muscle was also increased in Orch animals, and type I collagen fibers became more predominant in these animals. With the exception of the densities of collagen fibers and acinar lumen, in animals receiving testosterone replacement therapy all parameters became statistically similar to Sham. Collagen fibers density became lower and acinar lumen density became higher in Orch+T animals, when compared to Sham. This is the first study to demonstrate a relation between mast cells and testosterone levels in the prostate. This cells have been implicated in prostatic cancer and benign hyperplasia, although its specific role is not understood.Conclusion:Testosterone deprivation promotes major changes in the prostate of rats. The hormonal replacement therapy was effective in reversing these alterations.

SUMMARYRadiotherapy is widely used to treat pelvic malignancies, but normal tissues near the target tumour are often affected. Our aims were thus to determine whether the structural organization of the rat penis is altered by radiation, and whether supplementation with L-arginine (ARG) or L-glutamine (GLN) would have protective effects against these alterations. Groups of rats were treated with: no intervention (CONTR); pelvic radiation, followed by sacrifice 7 (RAD7) or 15 (RAD15) days later; and pelvic radiation, daily supplementation with ARG or GLN, followed by sacrifice 7 (RAD7+ARG, RAD7+GLN) or 15 (RAD15+ARG, RAD15+GLN) days after radiation. Structural components in the corpus cavernosum (CC), tunica albuginea of the corpus spongiosum (TACS) and urethral epithelium (UE) were analysed using stereological and immunohistochemical methods. The results showed that in the CC, connective tissue was increased by 18% in RAD15 (p < 0.04), but this change was partially prevented in RAD15+GLN (p < 0.05) and RAD15+ARG (p < 0.04). The fibrous matrix of the CC trabeculae stained evenly for collagen type I. In RAD15, the intensity of the labelling was increased, whereas in RAD15+GLN and RAD15+ARG the staining was similar to that of CONTR. No staining changes were seen in the groups that were sacrificed 7 days after radiation. Cavernosal elastic fibre content in RAD15 was increased by 61% (p < 0.004), and this was prevented in RAD15+ARG (p < 0.004) but not in RAD15+GLN. In TACS, the amino acids protected (p < 0.02) against the radiation-induced 92% increase in elastic fibre content, but only in RAD15. Cell density in the UE, as well as UE thickness, were reduced by 30% in RAD15 (p < 0.004), and there were protective effects of both amino acids. In conclusion, radiation-induced alterations in penile structures tend to be more pronounced 15 days after radiation session. Both ARG and GLN have protective effects against these changes, with the former being slightly more effective.

End-to-end anastomosis in the treatment for bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been associated with stricture formation. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate the effect of oral tamoxifen (tmx) treatment on fibrosis, collagen content and transforming growth factor-β1, -β2 and -β3 expression in common bile duct anastomosis of pigs. Twenty-six pigs were divided into three groups [sham (n = 8), control (n = 9) and tmx (n = 9)]. The common bile ducts were transected and anastomosed in the control and tmx groups. Tmx (40 mg/day) was administered orally to the tmx group, and the animals were euthanized after 60 days. Fibrosis was analysed by Masson's trichrome staining. Picrosirius red was used to quantify the total collagen content and collagen type I/III ratio. mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, -β2 and -β3 was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The control and study groups exhibited higher fibrosis than the sham group, and the study group showed lower fibrosis than the control group (P = 0.011). The control and tmx groups had higher total collagen content than the sham group (P = 0.003). The collagen type I/III ratio was higher in the control group than in the sham and tmx groups (P = 0.015). There were no significant differences in the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, -β2 and -β3 among the groups (P > 0.05). Tmx decreased fibrosis and prevented the change in collagen type I/III ratio caused by the procedure.

Purpose To evaluate the immediate and late effects of nandrolone on femur morphology of rats. Methods Twenty-eight animals with 20 weeks of age were divided into four groups: C28, control animals that were euthanized eight weeks after the experiment started; C40, control animals euthanized 20 weeks after the experiment started; T28, treated animals receiving nandrolone during eight weeks and euthanized immediately after the treatment period; and T40, animals treated during eight weeks and euthanized 12 weeks after the end of the treatment. Treated animals received nandrolone decanoate during eight weeks and control groups received peanut oil by intramuscular injection. After euthanasia, femurs were removed, dissected, weighted and measured by digital pachymeter. Results The T40 group presented an increase on distal epiphysis diameter when compared to C40 group. There was no difference between treated and control groups in relation to body and femur absolute weight, relative weight and length of femur. There was also no difference in relation to diameter of proximal epiphysis and diameter of diaphysis among the groups. Conclusions Nandrolone decanoate does not produce significant effect on femur, exception on its distal extremity at late period. The effects of such drug may depend on the time after administration.