Intracavernosal mesenchymal stem cell therapy in ischaemic priapism: an experimental study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Therapy

Background:

• Ischaemic priapism, often linked to intracavernosal drug use, lacks effective treatments beyond detumescence.
• Current management for ischaemic priapism is limited to cavernosal aspiration, which does not restore function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of intracavernosal mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in an established rat model of ischaemic priapism.
• To assess the impact of MSC therapy on penile physiology, histopathology, and molecular markers associated with priapism.

Main Methods:

• Thirty male Wistar albino rats were allocated into sham, priapism, and priapism+MSC treatment groups.
• An ischaemic priapism model was induced using a vacuum device and tape; MSCs were administered intracavernosally.
• Intracavernosal pressures (ICPs), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and penile tissues were analyzed after 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• MSC therapy significantly improved peak and mean ICPs and the ICP/MAP ratio in the priapism model.
• Histopathological analysis revealed increased smooth muscle/collagen ratio and e-NOS/n-NOS expression with MSC treatment.
• Molecular analysis showed decreased TGF-beta and VEGF mRNA, and increased NGF and BDNF mRNA expression following MSC therapy.

Conclusions:

• Intracavernosal MSC treatment effectively improved cavernosal physiology in the ischaemic priapism model.
• MSC therapy demonstrated positive histopathological and molecular effects, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in managing priapism.