Stem cells will restore erection after prostatectomy
The aim of the study by South Korean scientists from the Medical school of Sunchunhyang University, working under the guidance of Professor Y.S. Song, was to study the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on the surface of a nanofiber mesh into neuron-like cells, as well as to assess the possibility of their use for the treatment of erectile dysfunction by transplantation into the area of the damaged cavernous nerve.
According to Professor Song, this problem is very relevant for modern urological practice. Removal of the prostate gland is often accompanied by damage to the cavernous nerve innervating the cavernous tissue of the cavernous bodies of the penis. This leads to erectile dysfunction that reduces the quality of life of patients. Therapy with phosphoethyldiesterase inhibitors is ineffective in this case, so specialists are looking for alternative approaches to solving this problem.
As part of the study, the authors conducted experiments on 40 male Sprag-Dowley rats, which were divided into 4 identical groups. Group 1 animals underwent fictitious surgery, group 2 animals had a cavernous nerve damaged during surgery, group 3 animals were injected with a suspension of human mesenchymal stem cells immediately after damage to the cavernous nerve, and group 4 animals had the same cells cultured on a nanofiber mesh. The last procedure was that a nanofiber mesh covered with mesenchymal stem cells wrapped around the damaged nerve.
2 and 4 weeks after the operation, the researchers evaluated the erectile reactions of the animals by stimulating the cavernous nerve. After that, cavernous tissue samples were isolated and analyzed using morphological and immunohistochemical methods for the expression of nerve cell markers (nestin, beta-tubulin-III and MAP-2), endothelium (CD31, vWF) and smooth muscle fibers (smooth muscle actin).
The results of the analysis showed that the transplantation of nanofiber mesenchymal stem cell-coated mesenchymal meshes provided higher levels of expression of nerve, endothelial and smooth muscle markers in cavernous tissue compared with the effects of the introduction of a suspension of the same cells.
Moreover, it was found that cultivation on a nanofiber mesh facilitated the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into neurons.
Analysis of the strength of the erectile reaction showed that, both 2 and 4 weeks after the operation, it was weaker in group 2 animals with damaged cavernous nerves than in animals that underwent a fictitious operation. At the same time, the erectile reaction of group 3 males who received an injection of mesenchymal stem cells was stronger than the erectile reaction of group 1 males. The strongest erectile reaction was observed in group 4 males, around whose damaged cavernous nerve a nanofiber mesh covered with mesenchymal stem cells was implanted.
Based on the data obtained, the authors concluded that the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into neuron-like cells occurring on the surface of the nanofiber mesh and their subsequent transplantation contribute to the restoration of erectile dysfunction in animals with damaged cavernous nerve.
They believe that in the future, a similar procedure using mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the patient's own adipose tissue will find its application in clinical practice. However, they note that prior to this, it is necessary to conduct a thorough assessment of the effectiveness and safety of this technology.
The abstracts of the report by Y.S. Song et al. "Repair of erectile dysfunction using transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells cultivated on the surface of nanofibrous meshes in rats with cavernous nerve injury" received the third place in the category "Non-oncological research" at the opening of the annual congress of the European Association of Urology, held on March 15-19 in Milan.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily:
Stem Cells Transplantation Technique Has High Potential as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Erectile Dysfunction.
18.03.2013