Penile enhancement using a porcine small intestinal submucosa graft in a rat model

Lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction: from physiology to clinical aspects

Erectile dysfunction, prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms hare important pathogenetic links. Endothelial dysfunction and hormonal alterations represent the main aspects. The present article examines the anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiological characteristics of this association, finalizing the text to an interpretation of the clinical management of these patients based on these functional considerations.

Penile enhancement with rectus muscle fascia and testicular tunica vaginalis grafts: an experimental animal study

PURPOSE

To enhance rat penises experimentally with rectus muscle fascia (RMF) and testicular tunica vaginalis grafts (TVG).

METHODS

Twelve Wistar albino rats were distributed into two equal Groups, A and B. There were six rats in each group. RMF and TVG were used to enhance rat penises in Groups A and B, respectively. Circumferences of the penises were measured preoperatively and at three different times after the operation. Two, two and eight rats were killed 10 days, 1 month and 2 months after the operation, respectively, for histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

When we compared the measurements of preoperative and immediately postoperative circumferences, the mean increase was 23.4 ± 2.9 % in Group A and 19.9 ± 1.7 % in Group B. According to paired t test, the difference was significant (p < 0001), but the comparison between preoperative and postoperative first-month measurements was not found to be significant (p > 0.05). Histological examinations revealed an intensive inflammatory process at 10 days after the operation. Grafts were found to be totally absorbed in the first- and second-month examinations.

CONCLUSION

In our study, implanted TVG and RMF could not survive because of insufficient vascularization and failure to maintain satisfactory surgical success. More studies are needed to increase the effectiveness of surgical techniques.

Design and application of a new rat-specific vacuum erectile device for penile rehabilitation research

INTRODUCTION

Radical prostatectomy has a potential negative impact on penile health. The vacuum erection device (VED) has been used to promote the recovery of penile function and to maintain penile length. However, there is skepticism in the urological community due to its elusive mechanisms in penile rehabilitation.

AIM

To design a rat-specific VED and assess its application and safety.

METHODS

Based on rat penile measurement and the principle of human VED, the rat-specific VED was designed, and the application for rats was evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The vacuum pressure of the rat-specific VED was measured. The VED application on rat penis and its side effects were studied.

RESULTS

The rat-specific VED is a safe and applicable device to study the mechanism of VED in penile rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly designed rat-specific VED is a good simulator of the human VED. The application of this device on bilateral cavernous nerve crush rat model will be used to study the mechanisms of the VED in the penile rehabilitation.