Immunohistochemical alterations of the small penile arteries in impotent patients

ABSTRACT

This study included 20 organically impotent men. All patients were subjected to history taking, general and local examination, biothesiometry test, papaverine and phentolamine test, duplex, rigiscan and cavernosometry examination. The study also included five control cases from the postmortem room. For all included cases, an open biopsy was taken from the cavernous tissue of the mid shaft of the penis. The prepared histologic sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin stain, PAS [periodic acid Schiff] and Ulex Europeans agglutinin type-1 lectin [UEA-1] immunostaining to detect the changes in the endothelial cells. Based on the results, it was concluded that the endothelial alterations in the vascular spaces of the corpora cavernosa in impotent patients are functional rather than morphological