Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate a novel method, namely using bilateral internal iliac artery ligation combined with a high-fat diet (BCH), for establishing a rat model of erectile dysfunction (ED) that, compared to classical approaches, more closely mimics the chronic pathophysiology of human ED after acute ischemic insult.Materials and MethodsForty 4-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly placed into five groups (n = 8 per group): normal control (NC), bilateral internal iliac artery ligation (BIIAL), high-fat diet (HFD), BCH, and mock surgery (MS). All rats were induced for 12 weeks. Copulatory behavior, intracavernosal pressure (ICP), ICP/mean arterial pressure, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, serum lipid levels, and endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemical staining of the cavernous smooth muscle and endothelium were assessed. Data were analyzed by SAS 8.0 for Windows.ResultsSerum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the HFD and BCH groups than the NC and MS groups. High density lipoprotein levels were significantly lower in the HFD and BCH groups than the NC and MS groups. The ICP values and mount and intromission numbers were significantly lower in the BIIAL, HFD, and BCH groups than in the NC and MS groups. ICP was significantly lower in the BCH group than in the BIIAL and HFD groups. Cavernous smooth muscle and endothelial damage increased in the HFD and BCH groups. Cavernous smooth muscle to collagen ratio, nNOS and eNOS staining decreased significantly in the BIIAL, HFD, and BCH groups compared to the NC and MS groups.ConclusionsThe novel BCH model mimics the chronic pathophysiology of ED in humans and avoids the drawbacks of traditional ED models.
Highlights
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the consistent or recurrent inability to achieve and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance [1]
The intracavernosal pressure (ICP) values and mount and intromission numbers were significantly lower in the bilateral internal iliac artery ligation (BIIAL), high-fat diet (HFD), and BCH groups than in the normal control (NC) and mock surgery (MS) groups
Cavernous smooth muscle to collagen ratio, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) staining decreased significantly in the BIIAL, HFD, and BCH groups compared to the NC and MS groups
Summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the consistent or recurrent inability to achieve and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance [1]. The disadvantages of establishing arteriogenic ED models are the long duration of high-fat diet feeding and the auto-compensation observed 3 or more months after injury [11,12,13] Another disadvantage is the high price of the special rats required for arteriogenic ED models, such as testosterone-supplemented spontaneously hypertensive rats, transgenic rats even though the period in ED developing was shorter, and rats with injuries made in the acute phase [14,15,16].
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