The efficacy of intralesional baicalein injection in rat Peyronie's model

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of intralesional Baicalein injection as a new alternative to the limited and ineffective treatment options in the acute phase of Peyronie's disease. Material and Method: 30 male albino Wistar rats older than 6 months and weighing at least 450 grams were included in the study. In order to establish the disease model, 0.1 mL active recombinant TGF-ß1 protein and 0.1 mL sodium tetradecyl sulfate combined solution were administered intratunically as a single injection. Six rats each were randomly assigned to the following groups: the disease group, the control group, the low dose Baicalein group (0.8 μg/L, 50 μL), the medium dose Baicalein group (1.6 μg/L, 50 μL), and the high dose Baicalein group (3.2 μg/L, 50 μL). A total of 26 rats that completed the follow-up and treatment protocol were euthanized and their treatment responses were evaluated by histopathologic examinations. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the weight and penile curvature of the groups before and after treatment. As a result of histochemical and immunohistochemical examinations, there was a statistically significant difference in the level of fibrosis, smooth muscle loss in the corpus cavernosum tissue and severity of edema in the tissue in the treatment groups (p=0.015, p=0.05, p=0.001, respectively). In the digital examination of the specimens obtained from the experiment groups, the ratio of the total area of fibrotic regions to the total corpus cavernosum area and the mean tunica albuginea thickness of the tissues also showed a statistically significant difference in favor of treatment (p=0.002, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Baicalein administered intralesionally in the rat Peyronie's model suppressed fibrosis in the treatment groups, had a protective effect on smooth muscle tissue in the corpora cavernosa, and prevented the increase in the thickness of the tunica albuginea in the natural course of Peyronie's diseease. Keywords: Peyronie's disease, animal model, fibrosis, injection, Baicalein