Open Access3D reconstruction and histopathological analyses on murine corporal body
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Daiki,
Kajimoto Mizuki,
Ueda Yuko,
Hyuga Taiju,
Fujimoto Kota,
Inoue Saaya,
Suzuki Kentaro,
Kataoka Tomoya,
Kimura Kazunori,
Yamada Gen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1002/rmb2.12369
Subject(s) - tunica albuginea (penis) , sox9 , abnormality , penis , chondrogenesis , ectopic expression , erectile dysfunction , pathology , regulator , immunohistochemistry , notch signaling pathway , medicine , anatomy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , cartilage , gene expression , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics , psychiatry , gene
Purpose Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the increasing diseases with aging society. The basis of ED derived from local penile abnormality is poorly understood because of the complex three‐dimensional (3D) distribution of sinusoids in corpus cavernosum (CC). Understanding the 3D histological structure of penis is thus necessary. Analyses on the status of regulatory signals for such abnormality are also performed. Methods To analyze the 3D structure of sinusoid, 3D reconstruction from serial sections of murine CC were performed. Histological analyses between young (2 months old) and aged (14 months old) CC were performed. As for chondrogenic signaling status of aged CC, SOX9 and RBPJK staining was examined. Results Sinusoids prominently developed in the outer regions of CC adjacent to tunica albuginea. Aged CC samples contained ectopic chondrocytes in such regions. Associating with the appearance of chondrocytes, the expression of SOX9, chondrogenic regulator, was upregulated. The expression of RBPJK, one of the Notch signal regulators, was downregulated in the aged CC. Conclusions Prominent sinusoids distribute in the outer region of CC which may possess important roles for erection. A possibility of ectopic chondrogenesis induced by alteration of SOX9/Notch signaling with aging is indicated.