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Histological and ultrastructural alterations in an animal model of Peyronie’s disease
Author(s) -
El-Sakka,
Hassan Hassan,
Nunes,
Bhatnagar,
Yen,
Lue
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1998.00529.x
Subject(s) - peyronie's disease , tunica albuginea (penis) , ultrastructure , trichrome , pathology , fibrosis , pathogenesis , penis , electron microscope , cellular infiltration , histology , infiltration (hvac) , saline , medicine , matrix (chemical analysis) , immunohistochemistry , anatomy , chemistry , endocrinology , inflammation , h&e stain , materials science , physics , chromatography , optics , composite material
Objective To determine the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β), one of the cytokines known to induce tissue fibrosis, in the induction of a Peyronie’s‐like condition, and to produce an animal model for the further study of Peyronie’s disease. Materials and methods Twenty‐four adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into two groups: in group 1, different concentrations of cytomodulin, a synthetic heptapeptide with TGF‐β‐like activity, were injected into the tunica of each of 18 rats and six rats group 2 received saline injections as a control. The tunical tissues were taken after 3 days, 2 and 6 weeks and were examined histologically using Hart and trichrome stains. Electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructural changes in the same tissue samples. Results There were histological and ultrastructural alterations in 15 of 18 rats in group 1 (cytomodulin‐injected), especially in tissue examined after 6 weeks. The most prominent histological changes were chronic inflammatory cellular infiltration, focal and diffuse elastosis, thickening, disorganization and clumping of the collagen bundles. The ultrastructural changes were in the form of densely packed collagen, fragmented and scarce elastic fibres, separation of neuronal fibres by interposing clumps of packed collagen, and perivascular collagen deposition as a part of the reorganization of the interstitial matrix. Conclusion Cytomodulin can induce a Peyronie’s‐like condition in the rat penis, which may explain the role of TGF‐β in the pathogenesis of Peyronie’s disease. With further refinement, such rats may be used as an experimental model for studies of Peyronie’s disease.