DECREASED TRABECULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE AND CAVEOLIN-1 EXPRESSION IN THE PENILE TISSUE OF AGED RATS

Because decreased trabecular smooth muscle content is reportedly associated with vasculogenic impotence in men, we performed a rodent study to investigate the effect of aging on trabecular smooth muscle content and caveolin-1 protein expression in penile smooth muscle cells.In 6 young (age 3 months) and 6 old (age 24 months) rats erectile function was evaluated by cavernous nerve stimulation. At sacrifice penile tissue samples were collected for Western blot analysis, Masson's trichrome staining, caveolin-1 immunostaining and electron microscopy. The percent of smooth muscle in the trabecular tissue was assessed by computer assisted image analysis.In the aged rats mean intracavernous pressure plus or minus standard deviation was decreased (70 +/- 8.8 versus 107 +/- 12.3 cm. water) and the latency period was increased (7.8 +/- 1.2 versus 4.5 +/- 0.5 seconds) significantly compared to values in the young rats (p <0.001). The mean ratio of trabecular smooth muscle-to-connective tissue was also significantly altered in old versus young rats (27% +/- 2.9% versus 42.1% +/- 5.1%, p <0.001). Immunostaining for caveolin-1 was noted in each group in the sarcolemma of smooth muscle cells and endothelium of trabecular sinusoids but the staining pattern was less intense and the percent of smooth muscle positive for caveolin-1 was decreased in aged versus young rats (17.9% +/- 2.5% versus 27.5% +/- 3.6%, p <0.001). Moreover, young trabecular smooth muscle cells had more caveolae in the sarcolemma on electron microscopy and a higher expression of caveolin-1 protein on Western blot analysis. In contrast, higher endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression was noted in the penile tissue of old rats.In these aged rats the decreased ratio of trabecular smooth muscle-to-collagen and the reduced expression of caveolin-1 may contribute to erectile dysfunction.