Cell culture from human korpus kavernosum

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to form a primary tissue culture by producing endothelial and smooth muscle cell cultures from adult human corpus cavernosum and to search for the most appropriate method for this purpose.METHODSThe tissues for the primary corpus cavernosum cell culture were obtained from 8 patients aged between 54- 65 years old who have undergone penile prosthesis implantation because of erectile dysfunction during the procedure.Many methods have been tried during the cell culture study protocols. Cells were evaluated according to their homogeneity, viability, reproducibility and morphology. While morphological inspections were carried out by confocal microscope. RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the presence of endothelial molecules such as ABCA1 and caveolin and immunocytochemistry staining was done for the determination of endothelial cells.RESULTSWe observed that using elastase and EBM was the best way for obtaining cavernosal endothelial cells from the whole tissue. ABCA1 and caveolin mRNA expressions were determined by RT-PCR and endothelial cells were visible by immunocytochemistry staining.CONCLUSIONAdult human corpus cavernosum cell culture was formed by enzymatic isolation methods. The cell culture protocol in the present study is a good and practical method for future scientific research with adult human corpus cavernosum cell cultures.Keywords: Corpus cavernosum, penis, erectile dysfunction, cell culture, Caveolin, ABCA1