Hemodynamic Change during Penile Erection Induced by Pelvic Nerve Stimulation in the Dog

Oh, Tae Hee; Suh, Jun Kyu

Abstract

To investigate hemodynamic mechanism of penile erection and to establish animal model which permits hemodynamic study, simultaneous measurement of flow rate, pressure of the internal pudendal artery, and intracorporeal pressure during penile erection was performed using canine electroerection models. The results obtained were summarized as followings: 1. Following pelvic nerve stimulation, the erection phenomenon was grossly observed. The intracorporeal pressure began to increase after a latent period of mean 11.3 sec., and increased to the maximum and then maintained plateau state. When the stimulation was terminated, detumescence with gradual decrease of intracorporeal pressure was observed. 2. With stimulation above threshold level, transient drop of intracorporeal pressure was observed immediately after stimulation. The latent period and time to the maximal intracorporeal pressure were shortened. However, the degree of maximal intracorporeal pressure was not changed. 3. Following electric stimulation of the pelvic nerve, immediate decrease in internal pudendal arterial pressure and increase in flow rate of the internal pudendal artery without change in systemic blood pressure were followed by gradual increase in intracorporeal pressure. These indicate that relaxation of the sinusoidal smooth muscles and the arteries supplying the corpus cavernosum by pelvic nerve stimulation results in an increase in arterial inflow to the corpus cavernosum, which would play an important role in induction of penile erection. And it is suggested that this animal model would contribute to further hemodynamic study and development of therapeutics in erectile impotence.