Structural Study of Prepuce in Hypospadias—Does Topical Treatment With Testosterone Produce Alterations in Prepuce Vascularization?

Abstract

Purpose: Androgen stimulation before hypospadias surgery has resulted in increased penile size, fewer complications and improved cosmesis, and suggests increased neovascularization. To our knowledge the real effect on neovascularization remains to be proved. We studied the histological effects of testosterone on neovascularization.

Materials and Methods: A total of 26 boys with hypospadias were randomly allocated to 2 groups before surgical correction. Group 1 did not  eceive any treatment and group 2 received 1% testosterone propionate ointment twice daily for 30 days before surgery. During the surgical  rocedure a fragment of prepuce was excised and prepared for histological evaluation. The number and volume density of blood vessels were  etermined by labeling for von Willebrand’s factor. Blood vessel quantification as volume density was done using a video microscopy system with   superimposed cycloid arch test system.

 

Results: The groups were similar in age and hypospadias classification. Testosterone treated prepuces (group 2) had an increased absolute number of bloodvessels (mean SD 8.5 1.3 vs 4.8 1.8 vessels per field) and increased bloodvessel volume density (mean 50.5% 7.8% vs 24.8% 8.6% vessels per point) (each p 0.001) compared to those in untreated patients (group 1).

 

Conclusions: The use of 1% testosterone propionate ointment before hypospadias surgery produces neovascularization in absolute numbers and in volume density.

 

Keywords: urethra; neovascularization, physiologic; hypospadias;  testosterone; foreskin.

 

*Não disponível em português.

 

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