OBJECTIVETo establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet and explore the mechanisms of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction.

METHODSThirty male rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: normal diet (ND) group (n = 10) and high-cholesterol (HCH) group fed with 1.5% cholesterol diet (n = 20). Serum total cholesterol, plaque areas of the ascending aorta, the ratio of intima/media thickness and level of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery were determined after twelve weeks.

RESULTSAfter twelve weeks, all rabbits of the HCH group got hyperlipemia, 9 of which presented typical atherosclerosis (ATH). The rate of atherosclerosis induced by high-cholesterol diet was 52.9%. Serum total cholesterol levels of the ATH and HCH groups were higher than that of the ND group (P<0.01). The penile erection times and rate in the ATH and HCH groups decreased significantly, compared with the ND group (P<0.01). Both the ratio of intima/media thickness and the level of VCAM-1 mRNA expression of internal pudendal artery in the ATH group were higher than those in the HCH and ND groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is easy, prectuable and reliable to establish the animal model of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction induced by high-cholesterol diet. And one of the main causes of atherosclerotic erectile dysfunction is hypercholesterolemia, which through VCAM-1 may induce the structural and functional modifications of the endothelium of the internal pudendal artery and make the corpus cavernosum ischemia.