Quantitative assessment of the aging corpus cavernosum by shear wave elastography

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Urology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Aging affects penile tissue properties, potentially impacting erectile function.
• Understanding age-related changes in the corpus cavernosum (CC) is crucial for managing erectile dysfunction.
• Non-invasive methods are needed to evaluate CC aging and its functional consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing corpus cavernosum (CC) aging.
• To identify the histological basis of SWE measurement changes during CC aging.
• To correlate CC stiffness with erectile function and tissue composition.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 210 healthy male volunteers.
• Measurement of CC Young's modulus (YM) using SWE.
• Assessment of erectile function via the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).
• Histological analysis of penile specimens for smooth muscle and collagen content.
• Animal study in rats to corroborate findings.

Main Results:

• CC Young's modulus (CCYM) showed a strong positive correlation with age (r=0.949) and a negative correlation with erectile function (r=-0.843).
• Histological examination revealed increased collagen and decreased smooth muscle content in CCs with advancing age.
• Animal studies confirmed the positive correlation between CCYM and age, alongside decreased erectile function and altered tissue composition.

Conclusions:

• Shear wave elastography (SWE) provides a non-invasive, quantitative method to assess CC aging.
• Increased collagen and decreased smooth muscle content are the likely histological drivers of age-related CC stiffening and functional decline.