Effect of acetylcholine in vivo penile erection in rat

Seok, Bong Cheol; Suh, Jun Kyu

Abstract

An in vivo study was conducted on Sprague-Dawley rat to investigate the role of acetylcholine (AChl on penile erectionAn in vivo study was conducted on Sprague-Dawley rat to investigate the role of acetylcholine (AChl on penile erection. This was performed by simultaneously monitoring intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and systemic blood pressure after intracavernosal injection of ACh. anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) or atropine. with and without cavernosal nerve stimulation. Increase of basal ICP was not observed in the group with ACh (0.01 to 0.05ug) treatment alone (n=9). However, the synergic effect of ACh (0.01 to 0.05 ug) on nerve induced erection (NIE) was to enhance the results obtained by NIE alone. i.e., 55 mmHg with NIE alone to 77 mmHg with ACh pretreatment plus NIE. in mean ICP (n=9, P<0.05). A similar finding was observed in the group with anti-ChE pretreatment (0.01 to 1.Oug). i.e., 56 mmHg with NIE along to 84 mmHg with anti-ChE pretreatment plus NIE, in mean ICP (n=14, P<0.05). Conversely, NIE was markedly reduced in the group with atropine pretreatment (0.01 to 1.0ug) in dose dependent manner, i.e., 58mmHg with NIE along to 38mmHg with atropine pretreatment plus NIE, in mean ICP (n=13, P These results indicate that ACh does play a significant role in penile erection and it may require a cooperative action of other neurotransmitter to induce in vivo penile erection.