ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to elucidate the histopathological and the ultrastructural changes induced by lead in the cavernous tissue of impotent subjects. For this purpose, the study included 49 male subjects who were categorized into two main groups. Group I [n=34] included impotent males who underwent surgery for penile implants. They were further subdivided according to the blood lead level into 2 subgroups: Subgroup 1 [n=18] with acceptable lead level and who suffered of diabetes mellitus and subgroup 2 [n=16] with high lead level. Group II [n=15] included potent males who underwent surgery for penile cancer. Two small samples of cavernous tissue were taken during the operation. One piece was preserved in absolute alcohol to stain lead by the Mallory-Parker stain. The other piece was fixed and stained for electron microscopic study
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Erectile Dysfunction , Histology , Oxidative Stress , Biopsy , Microscopy, ElectronABSTRACT
This study was set out to assess the possible hazardous effects of lead on the endogenous antioxidant status of erectile tissues. The study included 49 male subjects categorized into two main groups. Group I [n=34] included impotent males, who underwent surgery for penile implants and further subdivided according to the blood lead into two subgroups; subgroup I [n=18] with acceptable lead level who suffered of diabetes mellitus and subgroup II [n=16] with high lead level. Group II [n=15] included potent males who underwent surgery for penile cancer. Blood and cavernous tissue samples were taken from each subject and in which lead concentration was estimated. In addition, nitric oxide [NO] and hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] were detected as representatives of free radicals, malondialdehyde [MDA] as a product of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E as indicators of the endogenous antioxidant status