Repeated Micro-Trauma of the Penile Tunica Albuginea: A New Animal Model of Peyronie's Disease.

OBJECTIVES

To compare effects of repairing injured tunica albuginea (PTA) of rat penis by single or repeated local injections of chlorhexidine ethanol (ChE) into the PTA and to establish a new animal model of Peyronie's disease (PD).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty-two rats were divided into 7 groups. Rats either served as the normal control group with 1-5 injections of 0.9% saline or they received a single injection, 2, 3, 4, or 5 injections of ChE (0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate plus 15% ethanol dissolved in saline); rats in the positive control group were injected with TGF-β1. At 60 days after the last injection, the intracavernous pressure, degree of penile curvature, and histology were evaluated.

RESULTS

Compared with the single injection of the ChE group, we found the following in the repeat ChE injections groups: an increase in the degree of penile curvature, fibrous plaques in the PTA and/or corpus cavernosum, broken elastic fibers, slightly decreased erectile function, and an increased expression of TGF-β1 and αSMA.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated ChE injuries of PTA may lead to fibrosis. This represents an excellent model of PD that involves repeated injections of ChE into the local PTA as well as reveals the pathophysiologic mechanism of PD.