A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Expression of LHCG receptors in the human penis




AuthorsZirnask Helen, Pöllänen Pasi, Suutre Siim, Kuuslahti Marianne, Kotsar Andres, Pakarainen Tomi, Kokk Kersti

PublisherTaylor and Francis Ltd

Publication year2020

JournalAging Male

Journal name in sourceAging Male

Volume23

Issue1

First page 8

Last page13

Number of pages6

ISSN1368-5538

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/13685538.2018.1514001

Web address https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13685538.2018.1514001


Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LHCG) receptor in the human penis to see, if the luteinizing hormone (LH) effects are possible in the spongious and cavernous tissue of the penis. The number of men with erection disturbances increases significantly simultaneously with the elevated LH concentrations between 40 and 70 years. It is possible that the elevated LH concentrations may influence locally the erectile mechanisms. The precondition for this is the expression of LHCG receptors in the penis. Penile tissue was obtained from three patients undergoing total or partial penectomy due to a rectal cancer with secondary penile metastasis or squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Immunohistochemistry was used for the detection of the LHCG receptor. Positive immunoreaction for LHCG receptors was discovered in the endothelial cells of cavernous spaces in the corpus cavernosum and corpus spongiosum penis, also in the endothelial cells of the capillary walls in all patients. Our results show that LHCG receptor is expressed in the spongious and cavernous tissue of the human penis. This finding suggests that LH can affect the spongious and cavernous tissue in human and play a significant role in the development of erectile dysfunction among the aging men.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 14:11