1. Novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate erectile dysfunction in a rat pelvic trauma model
- Author
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Alexandria M Hertz, Evalyn George, Joseph Hibbert, Amanda Reed-Maldonado, Timothy Brand, and Shashikumar Salgar
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Immunology ,Immunology and Allergy - Abstract
Introduction Battlefield pelvic injuries can result in erectile dysfunction (ED) in young soldiers. We investigated whether phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitor (PDE5i), low-energy shock wave (LESWT) and/or mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy could improve erectile function (EF) after pelvic injury. Methods Lewis rats 10–12 weeks old were divided into nine groups (n=6/group) - Sham, Injury (control), PDE5i, LESWT, MSC, LESWT+PDE5i, LESWT+MSC, MSC+PDE5i, and LESWT+PDE5i+MSC. Bilateral cavernous nerve crush injury and internal pudendal bundle ligation were performed. Bone marrow-derived MSCs (2x106cells) were injected in to the corpora cavernosum. Rats received LESWT (1000 pulses at 0.06 mJ/mm2, 3Hz, 3 times/week) or sildenafil (PDE5i) in drinking water (~10 mg/kg/day) for four weeks. At 6th week intracavernous pressure (ICP; mmHg) was recorded as EF outcome measure. Results Pelvic injury (control group) showed decrease (p Conclusion LESWT, MSC and/or PDE5i combination therapy appears to be promising in EF recovery.
- Published
- 2019
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