By John von Radowitz
An unusual organ implant grown in the laboratory and rigorously tested on highly-sexed male rabbits could bring new hope to thousands of men.
Scientists in the US completely rebuilt the “stiffening” elements of the penis from donor cells – and showed that they worked.
Rabbits given the implants attempted to mate within one minute of being introduced to a female partner, and 83 per cent succeeded.
Study leader Professor Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University in New Carolina, said: “Our results are encouraging and suggest that the technology has considerable potential for patients who need penile reconstruction.
“Our hope is that patients with congenital abnormalities, penile cancer, traumatic injury and some cases of erectile dysfunction will benefit from this technology in the future.”
The mammalian penis is a surprisingly complex organ which once damaged is difficult to repair.
Erections are achieved by means of two sponge-like cylinders, or “corporal bodies”, on each side of the penis that fill with blood.
Disease and injury can lead to loss of the erectile tissue, which may also waste away if no erections occur for too long. This is a risk faced by patients who have had surgery for prostate cancer.
In extreme cases artificial silicone rods can be implanted into the penis but they do not function in a natural way.
The new research focused on growing new erectile tissue in the laboratory from seeded cells.
First smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, similar to those lining blood vessels, were harvested from the erectile tissue of male rabbits.
Using a two-step process, these were then grown on a three-dimensional collagen “scaffolds” bathed in chemicals.
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