Treatment with neurturin at the site of cavernous nerve crush injury facilitates recovery of erectile function in a bilateral cavernous nerve crush injury model of erectile dysfunction in the rat. Results support further investigation of neurturin as a neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative agent following cavernous or other pelvic autonomic nerve injuries.
Competing interests
AJB, TMF, KT, and WOB declare no competing interests. RDK and CAG were employees of Rinat Neuroscience at the time of this study. TFL received funding for this study from Rinat Neuroscience.
Authors' contributions
AJB designed the study, performed crush injury (CI) surgeries, measurement of intracavernous pressure response of electrostimulation (ICP), and drafted the manuscript. TF and KT helped perform CI and ICP surgeries. WOB participated in study design, drafting of the manuscript, and performed statistical analyses. RDK and CAG synthesized neurturin, extended-release neurotrophin-4 and the blinded control, and contributed the NTN purification protocol to the manuscript. TFL conceived the study, participated in its design and drafting of the manuscript.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Rinat Neuroscience.
Dr. A. J. Bella is the American Urologic Association Foundation Robert J. Krane Scholar and a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada) Detweiler Travelling Fellow.
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