OBJECTIVES: To identify rat cavernous nerve and establish a rat model of erectile dysfunction caused by injury of cavernous nerve. METHODS: Ten rats were undergone dissections. 30 experimental rats were randomized into 2 groups, cavernous nerve were identified by electrical stimulation. One month after surgery, rat models were evaluated by electrical stimulation. RESULTS: The anatomic structure of cavernous nerve in rats are highly similar to human beings, the erection can be evoked by stimulating cavernous nerves, and after cavernous nerve injury it can not be evoked (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Because of the highly similarity of cavernous nerve between rats and human beings, so as the suitable price, rat should be used as the ideal ED experimental animal. The model of ED caused by cavernous nerve injury is reliable.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology* ; Ganglia, Autonomic/injuries* ; Male ; Penis/physiopathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley