The effects of colchicine on a Peyronie's-like condition in an animal model

Purpose: We have developed an animal model of Peyronie's disease by injecti ng transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) into the rat penis. Our objec tive is to study the effects of colchicine on the Peyronie's condition in a n animal model. Materials and Methods: Thirty six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received T GF-beta injections into the tunica albuginea and were divided into two grou ps (n = 18 each). Rats in the first group were divided into three subgroups (n = 6 each). Each rat in the three subgroups received the following: Subgroup 1 received colchicine, subgroup 2 received ibuprofen, and subgroup 3 received regular water. The rats were euthanized after 6 weeks, Rats in the second group we re also divided into three subgroups. These rats received the same treatmen ts as the rats in the first group, but treatments began 6 weeks after TGF-b eta injection. These rats were cuthanized after 12 weeks. Tunical tissue sa mples were collected and examined using Hart and trichrome stains, electron microscopy (EM), and western blot analysis for TGF-beta detection. Results: In the first group, the colchicine-treated rats exhibited less col lagen deposition and less elastic fiber fragmentation than the untreated or ibuprofen-treated rats. EM confirmed the results and showed normal distrib ution and shape of both collagen and elastic fibers in the colchicine-treat ed group. In the second group, the colchicine-treated rats exhibited less c rowding of the collagen fibers. However, the elastic fibers remained fragme nted and scarce. Western blot analysis showed significant down-regulation o f TGF-beta expression (5/6) in the colchicine-treated group after 6 weeks. Down-regulation was observed in only 1/6 in both ibuprofen and nontreated g roups. After 12 weeks 2/6, 1/6, and 1/6 rats displayed down regulation in t he colchicine treated, ibuprofen treated, and non-treated groups, respectiv ely. Conclusion: Early colchicine treatment may suppress a Peyronie's like condi tion in the rat animal model.