Whole genome microarray of the major pelvic ganglion after cavernous nerve injury: new insights into molecular profile changes after nerve injury

Abstract

What ' s known on the subject? and What does the study add?With the present study, we aimed to provide a global picture of the molecular processes that are activated by CN injury. The present study used genomic expression profi ling to identify candidate genes that might be useful targets in the CN recovery process and, thus, the ultimate preservation of penile erection. Regeneration of the CN and axonal outgrowth clearly involve changes in multiple biochemical pathways that have never been investigated by microarray analysis. We analyzed global gene expression in the major pelvic ganglion at early stages (48 h and 14 days) after CN injury and focused on the detection of changes in genes related to nervous tissue repair and proliferation. The fi ndings of the present study provide important insight into the molecular systems affected by CN injury and identify candidate genes that may be utilized for novel molecular-based therapies for the preservation and protection of the CN during RP.

Increased Expression of the Neuroregenerative Peptide Galanin in the Major Pelvic Ganglion Following Cavernous Nerve Injury

“…Data were extracted with Agilent F eature E xtraction software, version 9.5.3.1 (Agilent Technologies). Data were selected from the original microarray analysis [8].…”

“…Immunohistochemical images were not used for quantification. Microarray data were analyzed as previously described [8]. For qPCR with an assumed biological significant difference of 100× upregulation with an estimated standard deviation of 60.4 (based on a pilot study), an α of 0.05, and desired power of 0.8, the needed sample size needed for investigating galanin upregulation was three per group.…”

“…The neuropeptide galanin was one of the most strikingly upregulated genes. The three currently known G‐protein coupled galanin‐receptors (galR1,‐2,‐3) were not significantly altered as a result of injury [8]. While the microarray focused on two time points (48 hours and 14 days), we have added additional time points to investigate the temporal changes.…”

M1 Macrophages Are Predominantly Recruited to the Major Pelvic Ganglion of the Rat Following Cavernous Nerve Injury

“…In the major pelvic ganglion (MPG), a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are increased as early as 24 to 48 hours after bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI) in rodents [11,12]. This increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines can alter macrophage phenotypes toward neurotoxic M1 macrophages [13].…”

Axotomy of tributaries of the pelvic and pudendal nerves induces changes in the neurochemistry of mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons and the spinal cord

“…Using this model, the consequences of the deafferentation of autonomic pelvic ganglia on their neurochemistry and nerve regeneration (Calenda et al 2012; Girard et al 2013; Keast 2006; Song et al 2014), on erectile dysfunction (Calenda et al 2012; Karakiewicz et al 1996; Song et al 2014; Yamashita et al 2009) or bladder and urethral functions (Lee et al 2013) have been examined. Axotomy of the pelvic nerve or its tributaries [lumbar 6 (L6) and sacral 1 (S1) spinal nerves axotomy] was introduced for the study of the neural and behavioral effects of vaginocervical stimulation (Pfaus et al 2006), neurochemical changes in the lumbar sympathetic chain (LSC) (see Brumovsky et al 2011b), changes in colonic transit (Ridolfi et al 2011), or the physiology of parturition (Martinez-Gomez et al 1998; Tovar et al 2013).…”