Diabetes induced alteration of clitoral hemodynamics and structure in the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of diabetes on clitoral hemodynamics and structures in the rabbit.


METHODS
A total of 25 New Zealand White female rabbits weighing 3 to 3.5 kg. were divided into 2 groups, including 5 in the control and 20 in the experimental group. Experimental animals received intravenous injection of alloxan hydrochloride (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Missouri) (100 mg./kg.). The development of diabetes was verified by measuring body weight and blood glucose levels. After 12 weeks clitoral cavernous blood flow in ml. per minute per 100 gm. tissue was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Cross sections of the clitoris were used for histochemistry and histomorphometric image analysis.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks 5 animals were included in the diabetes group. Mean baseline flaccid and peak clitoral cavernous blood flow plus or minus standard deviation significantly decreased in the diabetic group compared with the control group (3.9 +/- 1.6 and 5.8 +/- 2.2 versus 7.2 +/- 2.5 and 12.9 +/- 5.8 ml. per minute per 100 gm. tissue, respectively, p <0.05). Histology revealed diffuse clitoral fibrosis in the diabetic group. On histomorphometry the mean proportion of clitoral cavernous smooth muscle in the diabetic group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (51.9% +/- 4.9% versus 62.3% +/- 3.1%, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that diabetes mellitus produces significant adverse effects on the hemodynamic mechanism of clitoral engorgement and leads to diffuse clitoral cavernous fibrosis. It implies that decreased sexual arousal in diabetic women may result from structural changes in the clitoris.
Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Chonnam University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
Kwangsung
K
Park
Kyuyoun
K
Ahn
Jang Soon
JS
Chang
Song-Eun
SE
Lee
Soo Bang
SB
Ryu
Yang Il
YI
Park
D000818:Animals; D002987:Clitoris / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow