OBJECTIVETo investigate the restoration of erectile function by reconstructing cavernous nerves with sural nerve grafts.

METHODSForty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats(3-4 m old and 300-400 g) were randomly divided into three groups: the sham-operated group (n = 16) underwent pelvic exploration without transection of the cavernous nerve; the nerve ablation group (n = 16) had a 5 mm segment of the cavernous nerve excised bilaterally; the graft group (n = 16) had a 5 mm segment of the cavernous nerve excised bilaterally, followed by immediate microsurgical reconstruction with an interposition graft of the sural nerve. The cavernous nerves of each group were electrostimulated to determine their potency after 2 and 4 months. And fluorescent retrograde-transported material Fluoro-Gold(FG) was injected into the penis. FG-labeled neuron cells in whole mounts of major pelvic ganglions were observed five days after injection.

RESULTSElectrical stimulation produced no erection in either the nerve ablation or the graft group, but 100% erection in the sham-operated group after 2 months. The numbers of FG-labeled neurons significantly differed between the nerve ablation group and the graft group. After 4 months erection examination showed statistical significance in the difference between the graft group and the nerve ablation group(P < 0.05). The FG-labeled neurons in the graft group significantly differed from those in the ablation (P < 0.05), and almost reached the level of the sham-operated(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCavernous nerve grafting can successfully restore erectile dysfunction in rats after surgical injury.