title: [Establishment of the animal model of induced high-cholesterol-atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction and the mechanisms of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet and explore the mechanisms of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: normal diet (ND) group (n = 10) and high-cholesterol (HCH) group fed with 1.5% cholesterol diet (n = 20). Serum total cholesterol, plaque areas of the ascending aorta, the ratio of intima/media thickness and level of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery were determined after twelve weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After twelve weeks, all rabbits of the HCH group got hyperlipemia, 9 of which presented typical atherosclerosis (ATH). The rate of atherosclerosis induced by high-cholesterol diet was 52.9%. Serum total cholesterol levels of the ATH and HCH groups were higher than that of the ND group (P<0.01). The penile erection times and rate in the ATH and HCH groups decreased significantly, compared with the ND group (P<0.01). Both the ratio of intima/media thickness and the level of VCAM-1 mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery in the ATH group were higher than those in the HCH and ND groups (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is easy, prectuable and reliable to establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet. And one of the main causes of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction is hypercholesterolemia, which through VCAM-1 may induce the structural and functional modifications of the endothelium of the internal pudendal artery and make the corpus cavernosum ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China. yang_guosheng@163.com
authors.forename: Guosheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhaodian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1