Cocultured Schwann Cells Rescue Irradiated Pelvic Neuron Outgrowth and Increase Survival.

Background: Prostatic radiation therapy (RT) leads to erectile dysfunction by damaging peri-prostatic pro-erectile nerves of the pelvic ganglion. Schwann cells (SC) facilitate neuronal repair after mechanical injury, however, their role in repair of pelvic neurons post-radiation hasn't been explored.

Aim: To determine if SCs cocultured with primary pelvic neurons can rescue neuronal survival and growth after ex vivo RT.

Ex Vivo Radiation Leads to Opposing Neurite Growth in Whole Ganglia vs Dissociated Cultured Pelvic Neurons.

Background: Prostatic radiation therapy (RT) often causes erectile dysfunction (ED) and the mechanisms governing RT-induced ED are unclear with a lack of therapeutic strategies.

Aim: To determine the effects of ex vivo RT on major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neuron survival, and neurite growth in whole vs dissociated culture.

Methods: MPGs were removed and irradiated (0 or 8 Gy) from male Sprague Dawley rats.