Rat as an animal model for male erectile function evaluation in sexual medicine research.
BACKGROUND
Animal models have contributed, to a great extent, to our understanding and advancement in the field of sexual medicine. Many current medical and surgical therapies in sexual medicine are the direct result of the development of such animal models. Over the past 15-20 years, rodents have become the premier models for such studies. In particular, the rat model provided the most valuable and reproducible investigations that significantly contributed to our knowledge of male sexual dysfunction as well as in the development of various treatment modalities. In addition, such in vivo animal models helped us develop the latest biotechnological tools that allowed numerous investigations at the cellular and molecular levels.


OBJECTIVE
Review the most common laboratory techniques that employ rat model for the evaluation of male erectile function and erectile tissue end-organ analyses.


METHODS
Review of peer-reviewed literature.


METHODS
Pathophysiology and laboratory research outcome correlation.


RESULTS
The review suggests that rat is a versatile model in sexual medicine research.


CONCLUSIONS
This versatile model should help in the further development of research tools, characterize additional signaling target molecules and pathways, and help in our understanding of male sexual dysfunction.
Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
Neal
N
Mehta
Suresh
S
Sikka
Mahadevan
M
Rajasekaran
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats