You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction/Andrology: Basic Research (II)1 Apr 20131026 PELVIC NERVE INJURY LEADS TO AUGMENTED ADRENERGIC CONSTRICTION AND FIBROSIS OF THE DISTAL VAGINA Vinson M. Wang, Xiaopu Liu, Fabio Castiglione, Arthur L. Burnett, Petter Hedlund, Trinity J. Bivalacqua, and Johanna L. Hannan Vinson M. WangVinson M. Wang Baltimore, MD More articles by this author , Xiaopu LiuXiaopu Liu Baltimore, MD More articles by this author , Fabio CastiglioneFabio Castiglione Milan, Italy More articles by this author , Arthur L. BurnettArthur L. Burnett Baltimore, MD More articles by this author , Petter HedlundPetter Hedlund Lund, Sweden More articles by this author , Trinity J. BivalacquaTrinity J. Bivalacqua Baltimore, MD More articles by this author , and Johanna L. HannanJohanna L. Hannan Baltimore, MD More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.611AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery performed in women in the United States and frequently results in sexual dysfunction. Female sexual responses rely on innervations from the pelvic plexus which may become damaged during radical hysterectomy. The objective of this study is to characterize the physiological and morphological end organ changes that take place following bilateral pelvic nerve injury (BPNI) in female rats. METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 wks) were divided into sham or BPNI in which nerves from the pelvic plexus innervating the vagina and bladder were bilaterally crushed. Animals were examined 7, 14, 30 and 60 days following BPNI. Distal vaginal strips were mounted in a myograph and contractile/relaxation responses to increasing concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) or frequencies of electrical field stimulation (EFS) were measured in the presence or absence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME. Rho-kinase (ROCK1, ROCK2) and RhoA gene expression were also assessed by PCR. Vaginal segments were formalin-fixed and stained with MassonÆs trichrome to assess smooth muscle and collagen content. RESULTS There is a significant increase in maximal vaginal contraction to NE at 7 and 14 days following BPNI (Sham: 8.1mN; 7d: 14.4mN; 14d: 12.2mN; p<0.05). At 30 and 60 days following injury contractions to NE had returned to sham levels. EFS mediated contractions were only slightly increased after BPNI. The increases in EFS contraction were exacerbated in the presence of L-NAME indicating that NOS may be compromised following nerve injury. Relaxation to non-adrenergic non-cholinergic EFS stimulation was significantly decreased 7 and 14 days after BPNI (Sham: 24.3%; 7d: 15.3%; 14d:11.1% relaxation, p<0.05) and returned to sham levels by 30 days. Gene expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 was significantly increased 14 days after BPNI (p<0.05) and itÆs activator RhoA was also significantly increased at 7 and 14 days compared to sham (p<0.05). Additionally, 14 days after BPNI there was an increase in collagen within the vaginal wall and a decrease in vaginal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that pelvic nerve injury leads to increased adrenergic, rho-kinase mediated tone, impaired relaxation and structural changes to the vagina. These findings parallel the phenotype demonstrated in the male cavernous nerve injury model and provide us with a female counterpart to study the mechanisms of neuropraxia-induced female sexual dysfunction. © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e420-e421 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Vinson M. Wang Baltimore, MD More articles by this author Xiaopu Liu Baltimore, MD More articles by this author Fabio Castiglione Milan, Italy More articles by this author Arthur L. Burnett Baltimore, MD More articles by this author Petter Hedlund Lund, Sweden More articles by this author Trinity J. Bivalacqua Baltimore, MD More articles by this author Johanna L. Hannan Baltimore, MD More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...