3D-printed perfused models of the penis for the study of penile physiology and for restoring erectile function in rabbits and pigs

Abstract

The intricate topology of vascular networks and the complex functions of vessel-rich tissues are challenging to reconstruct in vitro. Here we report the development of: in vitro pathological models of erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease; a model of the penis that includes the glans and the corpus spongiosum with urethral structures; and an implantable model of the corpus cavernosum, whose complex vascular network is critical for erectile function, via the vein-occlusion effect. Specifically, we 3D printed a hydrogel-based corpus cavernosum incorporating a strain-limiting tunica albuginea that can be engorged with blood through vein occlusion. In corpus cavernosum defects in rabbits and pigs, implantation of the 3D-printed tissue seeded with endothelial cells restored normal erectile function on electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves as well as spontaneous erectile function within a few weeks of implantation, which allowed the animals to mate and reproduce. Our findings support the further development of 3D-printed blood-vessel-rich functional organs for transplantation. 3D-printed models of the penis can facilitate the study of penile physiology and the repair of penile defects, as shown via a reconstructed and implanted corpus cavernosum that restored erectile function and mating capacity in rabbits and pigs.