Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 complex in cavernous nerve cryoablation

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein (IGFBP-3) on the recovery of erectile function in a rat model for neurogenic impotence. In all, 28 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: seven underwent a sham operation; seven underwent bilateral cavernous nerve freezing (control group); seven underwent bilateral cavernous nerve freezing followed by intraperitoneal injection of IGF-1; and seven underwent bilateral cavernous nerve freezing followed by intraperitoneal injection of IGFBP-3. Erectile response was assessed by cavernous nerve electrostimulation at 3 months, and samples of penile tissue were evaluated histochemically for nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing fibers. In the sham and IGF-1 group, there were significantly higher maximal intracavernous pressures compared to the IGFBP-3 complex and the control group. Correspondingly in the cavernosum, there were significantly more NOS-containing nerve fibers in the sham and IGF-1 groups. In conclusion, administration of IGF-1 can facilitate the regeneration of NOS-containing nerve fibers in penile tissue and enhance the recovery of erectile function after bilateral cavernous nerve cryoablation. The reverse effect was noted with the IGFBP-3 complex injection.

Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: A Critical Review

“…As this route of drug administration targets the organ of failure directly, it is commonly believed that IC injection is a locally applied intervention. However, we have observed that IC injected growth factors were able to restore erectile function through repair of damaged CN, whose cell bodies reside in the MPG [44][45][46]. Further, in our first SC-for-ED study, we observed that intracavernously injected SCs could treat CN injury-related ED [13], and all subsequent studies using different types of SCs confirmed the validity of this injection method for treating CN injury-related ED.…”

Herpes simplex virus vector-mediated delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor rescues erectile dysfunction following cavernous nerve injury

“…2,3 Several attempts to improve cavernous nerve function after injury in a variety of animal models have recently been reported, including nerve grafting, 4 nerve reconstruction, 5 pharmacological neuromodulation using immunophilins, 6,7 embryonic stem cell injection, 8 inhibition of neuronal inflammation or neuronal cell death using poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase 9 and gene delivery of neurotrophic factors. 10,11 Among these, application of neurotrophic factors to injured nerves presents an ideal option to prevent injury and/or facilitate nerve regeneration. Although several molecules related to penile erection, such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), 12 neuronal NOS (nNOS) 13 and maxi-K channel, 14,15 have been used as gene therapy strategies for ED in animals as well as in humans, when considering the mechanism of ED after cavernous nerve injury, neurotrophic factors may be the most appropriate candidates for a gene therapy treatment of nerve injury-related ED.…”

Neuromodulatory therapy with applications for the radical pelvic surgery patient

“…They also showed that VEGF treatment in a rat model of traumatic arteriogenic ED is associated with intrapenile nerve fiber recovery in spite of the angiogenic effects of this treatment [28]. They further showed that IGF-1 and IGFbinding protein-3 complex effectively regenerates penile nerve fibers and enhances the recovery of erectile function after bilateral cavernous nerve cryoablation [29]. Using an in vitro model of pelvic ganglion culture, these same investigators have verified that both BDNF and VEGF potently facilitate axonal outgrowth [30].…”