PURPOSE: We investigated the composition of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the corpus cavernosum (CC) and tunica albuginea (TA) of normal human penises. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Penises were obtained from a 6-month-old child (group 1), a 2-year-old child (group 2), 18 to 34-year-old adults (group 3), 37 to 53-year-old adults (group 4) and 22 fetuses at 17.2 to 33.3 menstrual weeks (group 5). Total GAG and collagen concentrations were expressed per mg dry tissue and proportions of GAG species were determined by agarose electrophoresis and ion exchange chromatography. RESULTS: The GAG concentration in group 1 CC and TA was 1.32 and 0.52 microg/mg, respectively, and thereafter it increased noticeably. TA collagen concentration followed a similar pattern. TA had more collagen than CC in groups 3 (mean +/- SD 93.41 +/- 6.17 vs 53.77 +/- 11.18 microg/mg, p <0.001) and 4 (89.94 +/- 5.53 vs 55.39 +/- 5.89 microg/mg, p <0.01). In these groups TA and CC differed markedly in the proportion of hyaluronan, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. In TA group 4 had slightly less hyaluronan and more chondroitin sulfate than group 3 but in CC the GAG proportions were similar. Collagen content in the whole fetal penis correlated with gestational age (r = 0.78, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Collagen and the GAG concentration in the human penis undergo extensive modifications during development and shortly after birth but from ages 2 to approximately 46 years changes are limited to the proportion of GAG species in TA from older individuals. Reflecting diverse biomechanical roles, the extracellular matrix of CC and TA are markedly different.
PURPOSE: We investigated the composition of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the corpus cavernosum (CC) and tunica albuginea (TA) of normal human penises. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Penises were obtained from a 6-month-old child (group 1), a 2-year-old child (group 2), 18 to 34-year-old adults (group 3), 37 to 53-year-old adults (group 4) and 22 fetuses at 17.2 to 33.3 menstrual weeks (group 5). Total GAG and collagen concentrations were expressed per mg dry tissue and proportions of GAG species were determined by agarose electrophoresis and ion exchange chromatography. RESULTS: The GAG concentration in group 1 CC and TA was 1.32 and 0.52 microg/mg, respectively, and thereafter it increased noticeably. TA collagen concentration followed a similar pattern. TA had more collagen than CC in groups 3 (mean +/- SD 93.41 +/- 6.17 vs 53.77 +/- 11.18 microg/mg, p <0.001) and 4 (89.94 +/- 5.53 vs 55.39 +/- 5.89 microg/mg, p <0.01). In these groups TA and CC differed markedly in the proportion of hyaluronan, heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. In TA group 4 had slightly less hyaluronan and more chondroitin sulfate than group 3 but in CC the GAG proportions were similar. Collagen content in the whole fetal penis correlated with gestational age (r = 0.78, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Collagen and the GAG concentration in the human penis undergo extensive modifications during development and shortly after birth but from ages 2 to approximately 46 years changes are limited to the proportion of GAG species in TA from older individuals. Reflecting diverse biomechanical roles, the extracellular matrix of CC and TA are markedly different.
Authors: Carla B M Gallo; Waldemar S Costa; Angelica Furriel; Ana L Bastos; Francisco J B Sampaio Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-29 Impact factor: 3.240