[The rat model of erectile dysfunction caused by cavernous nerve injury].
OBJECTIVE
To identify rat cavernous nerve and establish a rat model of erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by injury of cavernous nerve.


METHODS
Twenty rats were undergone dissections. Cavernous nerves were identified with the aid of operating microscope and confirmed by electrical stimulation. Then, 42 experimental rats were randomized into 3 groups, including sham operated controls, unilateral and bilateral cavernous nerve ablation groups. Three weeks after surgery, rat models were evaluated with Apomorphine Test.


RESULTS
The major pelvic ganglion lies on either side of the dorsolateral lobes of the prostate. It includes 2 inflows, one called hypogastric nerve and another is pelvic nerve. The largest outflow is termed as cavernous nerve. Stimulus parameters which could induce obvious penile erection were 5 volts, frequency of 20 Hertz and duration of 5 milliseconds. Three weeks after surgery, apomorphine could induce penile erection of each rat in controls with mean (2.57 +/- 1.40) erections in 30 minutes, while there were no erections (0.00 +/- 0.00) either in unilateral or bilateral group.


CONCLUSIONS
The rat of larger ganglion and its cavernous nerve can be easily identified, obvious response to electrical stimulation, low cost of animal purchase, easy housing and availability made rat as an ideal animal for establishing ED model caused by cavernous nerve injury. In addition, our study showed in the early period of cavernous nerve injury, either unilateral or bilateral, all rats lost their erectile function.
Zhang
Xin-Hua
XH
Urology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Hu
Li-Quan
LQ
Chen
Jian
J
Mo
Zeng-Nan
ZN
Huang
Wei-Hua
WH
Bai
Xian-Zhong
XZ
D000818:Animals; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000293:injuries*; D051381:Rats