1. Asian J Androl. 2009 Mar;11(2):215-21. doi: 10.1038/aja.2008.37. Epub 2009 Jan
19.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on cavernous nerve regeneration in a rat
model.

Ding XG, Li SW, Zheng XM, Hu LQ, Hu WL, Luo Y.

Research Center of Urology and Andrology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University,
Wuhan 430071, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
on cavernous nerve (CN) regeneration and functional status in a nerve-crush rat
model. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three
equal groups: eight had a sham operation, eight underwent bilateral nerve
crushing with no further intervention and eight underwent bilateral nerve
crushing with an immediate application of PRP on the site of injury. Erectile
function was assessed by CN electrostimulation at 3 months and nerve regeneration
was assessed by toluidine blue staining of CN and nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining of penile tissue. Three months
after surgery, in the group that underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no
further intervention, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean maximal
intracavernous pressure (ICP) and maximal ICP per mean arterial pressure (MAP)
with CN stimulation than those in the sham group. In the group with an immediate 
application of PRP, the mean maximal ICP and maximal ICP/MAP were significantly
higher than those in the injured control group. Histologically, the group with
the application of PRP had more myelinated axons of CNs and more
NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibres than the injured control group but fewer
than the sham group. These results show that the application of PRP to the site
of CN-crush injury facilitates nerve regeneration and recovery of erectile
function. Our research indicates that clinical application of PRP has potential
repairing effect on CN and peripheral nerves.

PMID: 19151738  [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]