PENILE CAVERNOUS TISSUE: AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAT

Abstract

This Investigation has established that: before birth and during the 1st week of postnatal life, the tissue of the corpus cavernosum is vascular, undlf f erentlated mes-enchyme;bythe8th day, cavernous spaces are lined by a partially attenuated endothellum and smooth muscle elements are present; between 20 and 40 days, the connective tissue of the trabeculae becomes dense; by 60 days, the adult configuration is attained and this is concluded to be the date of sexual maturity in the male rat; throughout development, cavernous tissue contains many nerve fibers.