Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Rat Cavernous Tissue Reveals Cellular Heterogeneity and Molecular Alterations in Cavernous Nerve Injury-Induced Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to cavernous nerve injury (CNI) is a common complication of pelvic surgeries, yet its cellular pathophysiology remains incompletely characterized. Here, we generated a high-resolution single-cell transcriptomic atlas of rat cavernous tissue following CNI. Our analysis identified dysregulated gene networks in key cell populations (e.g., fibroblast, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, Schwann cells, and macrophages) associated with fibrosis, vascular dysfunction, and axonal degeneration. This dataset provides a foundation for understanding CNI-mediated ED and discovering targets for nerve regeneration and tissue repair.海绵体神经损伤（cavernous nerve injury, CNI）继发的勃起功能障碍（erectile dysfunction, ED）是盆腔手术的常见并发症，但其细胞层面的病理生理机制尚未完全阐明。本研究构建了海绵体神经损伤后大鼠海绵体组织的高分辨率单细胞转录组图谱（single-cell transcriptomic atlas）。分析发现，关键细胞群（如成纤维细胞（fibroblast）、内皮细胞（endothelial cells）、平滑肌细胞（smooth muscle cells）、雪旺细胞（Schwann cells）与巨噬细胞（macrophages））中存在与纤维化（fibrosis）、血管功能障碍（vascular dysfunction）及轴突变性（axonal degeneration）相关的失调基因网络。本数据集为阐明海绵体神经损伤介导的勃起功能障碍的发病机制，以及发掘神经再生与组织修复的潜在靶点奠定了重要研究基础。