Comparison of the effects of pentoxifylline, simvastatin, tamoxifen, and losartan on cavernous bodies after penile fracture in rats: a stereological study.

Penile fracture (PF) is described as a rupture and fibrosis of the cavernous bodies. This study aimed to collect quantitative data on the impacts of pentoxifylline, simvastatin, tamoxifen, and losartan on cavernous body structure after PF. The rats were divided into six groups. The control group received anesthesia and incision without actual PF. The other groups (second to sixth) underwent PF induction in addition to administration of distilled water, pentoxifylline (200 mg/kg/day), simvastatin (40 mg/kg/day), tamoxifen (10 mg/kg/day), and losartan (20 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. The volumes of cavernous bodies, collagen bundles, and vessels and number of fibroblasts were increased significantly in the PF group in comparison to the control rats (p < 0.01), indicating a fibrotic process. Moreover, the mean volume of the cavernous bodies decreased in the groups with PF that received pentoxifylline, simvastatin, tamoxifen, or losartan when compared with the PF group. However, the volumes of the collagen bundles and vessels as well as the population of fibroblasts remained at the control level or even lower in PF plus pentoxifylline, simvastatin, tamoxifen, and losartan groups. This indicated the anti-fibrotic effects of the four drugs. It can be concluded that pentoxifylline, simvastatin, tamoxifen, and losartan could reduce fibrosis activities by minimizing the formation of collagen bundles and vessels as well as decreasing the population of fibroblasts 8 weeks after PF. Yet, losartan brought about a better outcome compared with the other chemicals.