Development of an Animal Model to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Collagen-Fleece (TachoSil) Patches for Repairing Tunica Albuginea Defects in Rats

R. Seyam, H. Mandourah, T. Al-Hussain, S. Kattan, W. Altaweel

Collagen fleece, experimental animal, graft, penis, Peyronie’s disease, Tachosil

Introduction

A penile tunica defect may arise during penile prosthesis surgery or reconstruction of the penis in patients with Peyronie’s disease. Collagen fleece (TachoSil) was recently reported in penile surgery to cover the tunica defect with reported clinical success.1 However, there is a need for an animal model to study the histological and hemodynamic outcomes of these grafts in the penis.2

Objective

We demonstrate TachoSil patching in a murine animal model. The rat is an excellent model for studying histopathology and the physiology of erection after Tachosil patching.3

Methods

Seven adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used. All procedures were carried out under general inhalation anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and with magnification x10-40. The penis was degloved through a circumferential subcoronal incision. A longitudinal 1x10 mm defect was created at the base of the lateral aspect of the penis. A TachoSil patch (Takeda, Japan) was applied to the defect. The penile skin covering is restored and fixed with interrupted 5-6 zero absorbable sutures.

Results

The video demonstrates how to create a tunica albuginea defect and patch it with TachoSil. At the surgery, the rats weighed 390 gm (SD 33.8). All animals survived to the endpoint of two months.

Conclusion

The rat model for TachoSil penile patching is feasible and robust. It permits evaluation of the histological and physiological changes that may occur after surgery. The animal model may be adapted to different short—and long-term endpoints, variable tunica albuginea defect size, and to compare Tachosil to other grafting materials.

1. Hatzichristodoulou G, Yang DY, Ring JD, Hebert KJ, Ziegelman MJ, Köhler TS. Multicenter Experience Using Collagen Fleece for Plaque Incision With Grafting to Correct Residual Curvature at the Time of Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement in Patients With Peyronie’s Disease. J Sex Med. 2020;17(6):1168-1174. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.02.019

2. Seyam RM, Mandourah HM, Kattan MS, Al-Hussain T, Altaweel WM, Kattan SA. A study of the histopathology of collagen fleece (TachoSil) patching of tunica albuginea in the rat penis and a literature review of penile graft materials in experimental animals. Transl Androl Urol. 2023;12(8):1238-1249. doi:10.21037/tau-23-229

3. Mehta N, Sikka S, Rajasekaran M. Rat as an animal model for male erectile function evaluation in sexual medicine research. J Sex Med. 2008;5(6):1278-1283. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00854.x