Introduction:Peyronie's disease, a connective tissue disorder of penile tunica albuginea (TA) associated with penile deformity, curvature, pain, and erectile dysfunction, is best managed surgically, but suitable graft biomaterials are not available.
Aim: To establish whether cryopreservation affects human TA in view of its use in allotransplants.
Methods: The effects on TA samples of the two most widely used tissue cryopreservation methods were investigated using an ad hoc panel of histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural tests. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase method of end labeling (TUNEL) assay.
Main Outcome Measures: Assessment of tissue integrity and arrangement of collagen and elastic fibers in thawed TA. Results. Both cryofixation methods provided TA tissue suitable for use as graft material. Significant ultrastructural changes, namely, a greater diameter of collagen fibrils, were detected in sections preserved in liquid nitrogen; nonetheless, such increase never exceeded the normal range. The comprehensive panel of assays used proved suitable to characterize the thawed tissue.
Conclusion: Human TA is suitable for cryopreservation; freezing at -80°C provides better results than preservation in liquid nitrogen.
Written by:
Loreto C, Orlandi A, Ferlosio A, Djinovic R, Basic D, Bettocchi C, Rutigliano M, Barbagli G, Vespasiani G, Caltabiano R, Musumeci G, Sansalone S. Are you the author?
Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Anatomy Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Institute of Pathology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy; Sava Perovic Foundation, Center for Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgery, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinic of Urology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia; Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Section of Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Center for Reconstructive Urethral Surgery, Arezzo, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy; Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Section of Anatomy, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Reference: J Sex Med. 2012 May 22. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02789.x
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22616821
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