Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Associated to Matrixen on the Erectile Function in the Rat Model with Bilateral Cavernous Nerve Crushing Injury

Abstract

Objectives:To evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs mixed with Matrixen as a cell carrier on the erectile dysfunction caused by bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury. Materials and Methods: White male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated control group (n = 5), bilateral cavernous nerve crushing group (BCNC group, n = 10), BCNC administered with MSCs group (n = 10,1x106 in 20 µL), BCNC administered with Matrixen group (n = 10.1x106 in 20 µL), BCNC administered with MSCs/Matrixen group (n = 10.1x106 in 20 µL). After functional assessment at 4 weeks, major pelvic ganglion (MPG) and penile tissue were collected. Immunofl uorescent staining of MPG was performed with PKH26 and Tuj1. Western blot analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were done in corpus cavernosum. Results: ICP/MAP ratios of BCNC with MSCs and MSCs/Matrixen groups were significantly increased compared with BCNC and BCNC with Matrixen group. Moreover, ICP/ MAP ratios of MSCs/Matrixen group were signifi cantly increased compared with BCNC with MSCs group. In MPG, the more implantation of MSCs and increased expression of nerve cells were observed in MSCs/Matrixen group compared with BCNC with MSCs group. Signifi cant increase expression of eNOS and nNOS was also noted in BCNC with MSCs/Matrixen group. Conclusion: The erectile function was more preserved in MSCs/Matrixen group compared with the administration of MSCs alone in the rats with bilateral cavernous nerve crushing injury. Therefore, we consider that the use of transplant cell carrier such as Matrixen may help the implantation of MSCs and improve the therapeutic effect of MSCs. INTRODUCTIONDiagnosis of prostate cancer has been elevating due to the increase in prostate-specifi c antigen (PSA) screening. In addition, this earlier diagnosis increases the number of patients presenting with clinically organ-confi ned disease and therefore, it has led to an increase of the number of candidates for radical prostatectomy (1,2). Radical prostatectomy has been associated with complications such as postoperative urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a bothersome complaint among pa-

Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction of Cavernous Nerve Injury Rats: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Scaffolds can place numerous stem cells to a target tissue and possibly get better therapeutic effect in transplantation. Researchers reported improved effects when scaffolds were applied [ 13 , 16 , 22 ]. Our meta-analysis showed that acellular scaffolds could promote cavernous nerve regeneration but were less effective for smooth muscle cell recovery.…”

“…Kim [ 13 ] reported the effects of BMSCs mixed with Matrixen, a kind of collagen-based biocompatible polymer, and administered to the MPG of rats with cavernous nerve crushed. Four weeks after transplantation, erectile function, PKH-26-labelled BMSCs, expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nNOS were significantly increased in BMSCs/Matrixen group compared with those in the BMSCs group.…”

Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: Progress and Future Directions

“…Similar results were obtained by the same group with the use of ADSC embedded in a nerve growth factor‐loaded hydrogel . Others have used a collagen‐containing gel to retain MSC in close proximity to the MPG and again observed improved erectile recovery and increased penile nNOS expression after cavernous nerve crush injury . In a cavernous nerve resection model, Lin and colleagues showed that bridging the nerve gap with adipose matrix loaded with ADSC resulted in increased cavernous nerve sprouting compared with unseeded matrix; however, because of the model chosen, there was no significant effect on nerve electrical stimulation‐induced intracavernous pressure (ICP) increases .…”

Stem-cell therapy for erectile dysfunction

“…We selected studies representing important advances in SC therapy for ED, both in efficacy and in understanding the mechanism of action of cellular therapy. However, all SC studies that were identified using the search criteria noted above are summarised in Table 1 [22–45] .…”