Effect of Penile Tourniquet on Growth Factors in Rat Penile Tissue

Don’t know if this has been posted:

Original Article
Eur J Pediatr Surg 2009; 19(4): 236-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1215600

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Penile Tourniquet on Growth Factors in Rat Penile Tissue

M. Kaya1, T. Soyer1, S. Ayva2, M. ÇAkmak1
1 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University
2 Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Kirikkale University
Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of penile tourniquet application on growth factors in rat penile tissues.

Materials and Methods: Forty Wistar male rats were included in the study. Rats were divided into 4 groups. After anesthetization, perimeatal penile skin and the corpus cavernosum were sampled in the control group (CG). A Mathieu-like flap was designed without a penile tourniquet (PT) to serve as a sham group (SG). In the PT groups, a Mathieu-like flap was created and a 5 mm diameter rubber circular band was applied at the base of the penis. The PT was applied for 10 min in the PT-10 group and for 30 min in the PT-30 group. Penile tissue was sampled 24 h after PT application in the SG and PT groups. Tissues obtained were examined in three sections: the subepithelial vascular plexus (SVP), the corpus cavernosum (CC) and the smooth muscle-like mesenchymal cells in the corpus cavernosum (MC). Acute inflammation was evaluated with hematoxylin-eosin staining. The effect of PT on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and transforming growth factor β receptor (TGF β-R) levels was evaluated.

Results: Higher grades of acute inflammation were encountered in the PT-10 and PT-30 groups compared to the CG and SG (p<0.005). However, mean grades of acute inflammation did not show a statistical difference between the PT-10 and PT-30 groups (p>0.05). When the levels of growth factors were compared between the CG and PT-10 group, the PT-10 group showed increased levels of VEGF and TGF β-R. In the PT-30 group, both VEGF and VEGFR levels were found to be decreased. When acute inflammation grades of tissues were correlated with VEGF and TGF β-R, higher acute inflammation grades correlated with decreased VEGF and increased TGF β-R levels (Spearman’s correlation, p<0.005). Although alterations in VEGF and TGF β-R levels were detected in the SVP and CC of penile tissues, altered VEGFR levels were only detected in the MC sections.

Conclusion: PT caused higher grades of acute inflammation which correlated with decreased VEGF levels and increased TGF β-R levels. Decreased VEGF levels after PT may alter the angiogenesis phase of wound healing and cause poor angiogenesis in penile skin flaps. Increased levels of TGF β-R can be considered as an acute inflammatory response to PT. These results confirmed that prolonged PT application may result in altered growth factors in penile tissue and may reduce the success rate of repair.

Very interesting.

Thanks for posting it.

This confirms what I had already thought- acute oxygen deprivation increases tissue levels of TGF. Funny that this may actually inhibit angiogenesis though. I got some good gains in CS and glans expansion from flaccid clamping a while back.

It is probably interesting … but can someone explain to the very bad English spoken that I am what is a “penile tourniquet” ? :) . Thanks.

Hey Graal,

penile tourniquet is just a term used to describe something that stops blood flow into and out of the penis. Practically speaking, we can make a penile tourniquet for ourselves by firmly clamping off our penis at the base with our finger and thumb, thereby cutting off the blood flow to and from the penis. Alternatively, we can use a clamp to achieve the same thing.

It would be interesting to see the effect of a partial cut-off of blood to the penis on these noted parameters. I personally think there is a lot of merit to using a cock ring all day (and when one has the right kind of ring, all night, too).

Thanks man-of-10.

The word “tourniquet” exists in French but means something quite different : I think you call it “revolving door”. :)

”..the PT-10 group showed increased levels of VEGF and TGF β-R. In the PT-30 group, both VEGF and VEGFR levels were found to be decreased…”

In the 10 min experiment they noted increased levels of VEGF so theoretically it didn’t inhibit angiogenesis in this group.

Can someone please confirm something for me on this? I’m reading the results to say it’s good to do 10 minute clamping, but you actually get a negative effect if you’re doing 30 minutes.

If that’s the case, then it’s more evidence for the 10 minute rule that many are following for clamping sets anyway, which is good.

I see this as an important scientific finding that backs up clamping for 10 minutes sets. In my own experience if I do 1 10 minute clamping about 5 days a week, my dick hangs lower, I have great EQ and I seem more plump. As soon as I go beyond 10 minutes or try to do multiple sets my EQ plummets and I turtle. I think a simple routine of 10 minutes a day is enough to stimulate the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) which may be responsible for girth growth with clamping.

Interesting, albeit seven years old…

I wonder if this is at all relevant to pumping. I’m nowhere near ready for clamping. I’m going to switch back to 10-minute pumping sets (instead of reducing pressure to zero every 5-minutes) in an attempt to increase hypoxia. Hopefully this will elevate VEGF and promote angiogenesis.