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Ultrastructural Characterization of Corpus Cavernosum of Ageing, Orchidectomy and Diabetes Rat Experimental Models

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

A.L. Cordeiro ,
A. Figueiredo ,
F. Godinho ,
I. Martins ,
P. Vendeira ,
H. Almeida  and
D. Neves
A.L. Cordeiro
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
A. Figueiredo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
F. Godinho
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
I. Martins
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
P. Vendeira
Affiliation:
Department of Urology of S. João Central Hospital, Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
H. Almeida
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal
D. Neves
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology of Faculty of Medicine and IBMC of Universidade do Porto - 4200-319 Porto – Portugal

Abstract

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Small vessels of the penis are very sensitive to structural and functional changes, and small disturbances can conduce to any degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). For this motive, ED is now considered as an early manifestation of atherosclerosis and consequently a precursor of systemic vascular disease. Ageing, diabetes and hipogonadic states are recognized risk factors for ED, contributing together to vascular damage of penile tissue. Penile trabeculae of corpus cavernosum in the rat, constituted by connective tissue with abundant collagen fibrils, scarce fibroblasts and fibroelastic components, support smooth muscle fibers in subendothelium location. Corpus cavernosum structural elements act in concert, allowing increase of intra-cavernous arterial flow and smooth muscle relaxing, processes which are fundamental to penis erection. The purpose of this study is to clarify ultrastructural organization of corpus cavernosum of experimental rat models of known ED-risk factors.

Type
Abstract
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 14 , Supplement S3 , September 2008 , pp. 97 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2008