Effect of aging on the elastic fibers of the tunica albuginea of the penis

Objective: A decrease in erectile function usually accompanies the aging process. Tunica albuginea (TA) with its well-known role in the mechanism of erection may also be affected with this process. The structural disorders of the tunica albuginea lead to impairment in penile erection. Our aim was to investigate the guantity and guality of the elastic fibers of the TA and its relevance with aging.Methods: The elastic fiber concentrations of TA using a computarized image processing and analysis system, were calculated and evaluated in 26 potent men with 15-79 years of age.Results: A statistically significant reduction of the area of the elastic fibers was found in patients with 50 years of age or older when compared to those younger than 50 (p=0.0002). Also unlike the younger men the structure of the elastic fibers were impaired in older men.Conclusion: Reduction and irregularity in the elastic fibers of the TA of the corpora cavernosa in older men may be an additional factor complicating the adverse effects on erectile mechanism in aging men

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