[Objective] Radical prostatectomy is involved with cavernous nerve (CN) damage which often cause neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED). Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation was proven effective in treating a neurogenic ED model rat with bilateral CN injury (BCNI). However, stem cell therapy may induce embolization and immunoreactions. We aimed to investigate the effects of filtrated BMSC lysate (BSCL) which does not contain cells.
[Methods] Rats underwent either sham or BCNI surgery. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or BSCL was injected postoperatively into the corpus cavernosum (each group; n=7). Erectile function was evaluated by measuring intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) while the CN was stimulated. After the experiment, penis samples were obtained for histological assessment. Neurite outgrowth was evaluated using major pelvic ganglia (MPG), which were placed on Matrigel^🄬 and incubated with normal medium or medium with either BSCL or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a positive control.
[Results] While BCNI significantly decreased ICP/MAP compared to sham surgery (P < 0.05), the injection of BSCL significantly reversed ICP/MAP compared to PBS injection (P < 0.05). In addition, MPG treated with medium containing BSCL or VEGF had longer neurite outgrowth than those treated with normal medium. On the other hand, the penile structures of each group did not differ significantly.
[Discussion] Our results suggest that BSCL improve ED caused by CN injury, which may be due to CN regeneration.