Establishment of Peyronie's Disease Model in a Rat with Repeated Injections of Fibrin into Tunica Albuginea

Piao, Shuguang; Lee, Byung Youn; Kim, Oh Hyun; Ryu, Ji Kan; Suh, Jun Kyu

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to establish a Peyronie's disease model by using local injection of fibrin into the tunica albuginea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n=12 per group): Gr I, age-matched control; Gr II, a single injection of fibrin (50 microliter each of human fibrin and thrombin solutions); and Gr III, repeated injections of fibrin (50 microliter each of human fibrin and thrombin solutions, days 0, 3, and 6, respectively) into the tunica albuginea. We evaluated penile curvature by the use of an artificial erection test with intracavernous injection of saline and erectile function by cavernous nerve electrical stimulation 30, 45, and 60 days (n=4 per time point) after treatment. The penis was then harvested and stained with Masson trichrome, hematoxylin-eosin, and antibody to phospho-Smad2.
RESULTS
Whereas a single intratunical injection of fibrin induced fibrous scar in the tunica, which lasted up to 45 days and disappeared 60 days after injection, repeated injections of fibrin induced more pronounced tunical fibrosis, which lasted up to 60 days after injection. However, a single or repeated intratunical injection of fibrin did not induce significant penile curvature. The peculiar histological findings in group receiving a single or repeated intratunical injection of fibrin were infiltration of inflammatory cells, and increase of transnuclear expression of phospho-Smad2.
CONCLUSIONS
Although a single or repeated administration of fibrin did not induce penile curvature, this model may contribute to further investigation of pathogenesis and development of potential therapeutics in Peyronie's disease.