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

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 16, pages 418–423 (2004)Cite this article

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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported financially from the ISSIR (Pfizer) research grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    D Bochinski, P-S Hsieh, L Nunes, G-T Lin, C-S Lin & T F Lue

  2. Department of Medicine, Davies Medical Centre, San Francisco, California, USA

    E M Spencer

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  1. D Bochinski
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  2. P-S Hsieh
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  3. L Nunes
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  4. G-T Lin
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  5. C-S Lin
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  6. E M Spencer
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  7. T F Lue
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Correspondence to T F Lue.

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Bochinski, D., Hsieh, PS., Nunes, L. et al. Effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 complex in cavernous nerve cryoablation. Int J Impot Res 16, 418–423 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901190

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