Relaxation and contraction factors influencing penile erection are produced and released by the central and peripheral nerves as well as intracavernosal sinus gap and vascular endothelial cells. Aging, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and spinal cord injury can influence these factors. Further researches of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the erectile dysfunction (ED) can provide some theoretical evidences for the clinical treatment of ED.
Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Penis ; physiopathology

Endothelial function plays a very important role in the process of erection. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD) overlap in risk factors, aetiology and clinical outcomes. Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be their shared aetiological factor. There is growing evidence that patients presenting with ED should be investigated for CAD, even if with no symptoms of the problem. Earlier diagnosis of ED can facilitate prompt intervention, reduce long-term complications, especially the risk of CAD, and provide effective treatment for ED.
Arteriosclerosis ; physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; blood supply ; physiopathology

Recently, we have a further understanding on the pathogeny of erectile dysfunction, and with the application of so many new technologies, such as color Doppler ultrasound, electrical impedance, evoked potential, sensor etc. The diagnosis of ED becomes more and more scientific and convenient. Today we make a review on all kinds of diagnosing methods in order to recognise it more clearly and to provide some more precise and practical way for forensic evaluation in future.
Erectile Dysfunction/physiopathology* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Penis/physiopathology* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex/methods*

Neurogenic erectile dysfunction (NED) caused by pelvic floor surgeries/radiation therapies and associated with Parkinsons disease and diabetes remains a challenging healthcare issue. To facilitate NED research we have developed in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The in vitro model comprises the isolation, culture and treatment of rat major pelvic ganglia (MPG), which then produce outgrowing neurites whose length and molecular composition are indicative of the neurotrophic effect of the treatment agent. Through this approach we have confirmed that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes nerve regeneration by activating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. This has been further established by our in vivo model, which involves the transection or cruch of cavernous nerves and treatment with BDNF.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Ganglia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Pelvis ; innervation ; Penis ; innervation ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDWhile the abnormal appearance of the concealed penis has been well recognized, the effect of buried penis on the structure and function of corpus cavernosum has not been well studied. To explore this issue, we established a rat model and evaluated the effect of buried penis on cavernosum weight, contents and ultrastructure of tissue, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity.

METHODSTwo hundred and ten rats were randomly divided into 3 equal cohorts for 2, 4 and 6 months study (groups A, B and C). Each group was randomly divided into buried group (n = 40), control group (n = 15), and normal group (n = 15), respectively. Intra-purse-string suture of the root of the penis was used to establish the model. Macroscopic development was judged by measuring the weight of the corpus cavernosum. Masson's trichrome staining was performed for observing microstructure while a transmission electron microscope was used for observing ultrastructure. The NOS activity was detected by a NOS activity assay kit.

RESULTSBuried penis had no significant influence on the appearance and weight of the corpus cavernosum. Buried penis resulted in decreased smooth muscle content (P > 0.05 in group A, and P < 0.05 in groups B and C) and increased fibrous connective tissue content (P > 0.05 in groups A and B, and P < 0.05 in group C) compared with the normal and control groups. Ultrastructural abnormalities of corpus cavernosum were observed in the 6-month buried group. Moreover, there was decrease of NOS activity in groups B and C (P < 0.05 in group B and P < 0.01 in group C) when compared with the normal and control groups.

CONCLUSIONBuried penis affects the structure and function of corpus cavernosum in rats and the effect is positively correlated with the buried time, but there is no significant effect on the macroscopic development.

Animals ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the management of ischemic priapism (IP) by analyzing the clinical and follow-up data of IP patients.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 8 IP patients treated in our hospital from January 2004 to June 2010 and analyzed the results of follow-ups by telephone calls and clinic visits.

RESULTSThe average age of the patients was 34.5 (23 -41) years and the mean duration of priapism was 84.5 (36 -132) hours. All the patients had received previous detumescence treatment but failed before referred to our hospital. Irrigation/aspiration was performed at first, which achieved complete detumescence in 1 case and partial or transitional detumescence in the other 7. Subsequently, bilateral Al-Ghorab shunt was tried and succeeded in 2 cases but failed in 5. Finally, T-shunt was conducted, which achieved complete resumption in all the remaining 5 cases. Follow-up data were available in 5 of the cases, which were followed up for 12 -66 (mean 54) months. Of the 5 cases, moderate ED occurred in 2, and complete ED in 3. The latter 3 had suffered a longer duration of IP than the former 2.

CONCLUSIONIf detumescence failes, early intervention by T-shunt can improve the success rate of IP treatment.

Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; physiopathology ; Priapism ; therapy ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of the factors of perceived male infertility on men's penile erectile function.

METHODSUsing the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), we investigated the penile erectile function among 245 infertile men (infertility group) and another 52 males having physical checkup for planned conception (checkup group), the former further divided into four subgroups according to the factors of infertility: male factor, female factor, bilateral factor, and unknown factor. We compared the total and item scores of IIEF-5 among different groups.

RESULTSMild or mild-moderate ED was found in 50.61% of the infertile men, with a total IIEF-5 score of 21.24 +/- 2.58. The total and item scores of IIEF-5 were markedly higher in the male factor than in the female factor subgroup (P < 0.01), but with no significant difference between the male factor subgroup and the bilateral and unknown factor subgroups (P > 0.05), except the score on confidence. The scores were significantly lower in the bilateral and unknown factor subgroups than in the female factor subgroup (P < 0.05), with no remarkable difference between the former two. In the infertility group, the total and item scores of IIEF-5 were markedly higher in those with education above high school than in those with high school or lower education (P < 0.01), but not correlated with age and infertility duration. After adjustment for education background, the total IIEF-5 score and the scores on confidence and satisfaction were significantly lower in the infertility than in the checkup group (P < 0.05), and 15.38% of the men in the latter group had mild ED, dramatically lower than in the former (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPerceived infertility may cause ED in males, and a higher incidence rate is associated with lower education background of the men.

Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; physiopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the current status of penis and testicular development in boys and the effects of overweight/obesity on their development in the Zhengzhou area of Henan Province.

METHODSHeight, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, penis length and testicular volume were measured in 3 546 4 to 12-year-old boys. The penis length and testicular volume were compared between the overweight/obesity and normal weight groups.

RESULTSBefore 9 years of age, the testicular volume was progressively smaller, and after 9 years old, it gradually increased. By the age of 11, it increased rapidly. The penis length increased gradually between 4 and 11 years of age, and after the age of 11 it increased rapidly. Phimosis was found in 144 cases (4.01%) and cryptorchidism was found in 18 cases (0.51%). A total of 639 (18.02%) boys were overweight or obese among 3 546 boys. At the ages of 6 and 7 years, the testicular volume in the overweight/obesity group was greater than in the normal control group (P<0.05). The penis length in the overweight/obesity group was significantly shorter than in the normal control group (P<0.05) by the age of 11 years. The correlation analysis showed that the testicular volume at the ages of 4 and 5 years was positively correlated with height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference in overweight/obese boys. The penis length at the ages of 7 and 8 years was negatively correlated with weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. By the age of 12 years, the penis length was positively correlated with the height.

CONCLUSIONSThe development of penis and testicles in boys in the Zhengzhou area is in line with the level of sex development of Chinese boys. Overweight/obesity adversely affects the development of penis and testicles.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Penis ; growth & development ; Testis ; growth & development

Animal models for the study of erectile function monitoring the changes in intracavernous pressure (ICP) during penile erection was reviewed. The development of new models using small commercially-available experimental animals, rats and mice, in the last decade facilitated in vivo investigation of erectile physiology. The technique enabled to evaluate even subtle erectile responses by analyzing ICP and systemic blood pressure. Moreover, the method has been well improved and studies using conscious animal models without the influence of any drug or anesthesia are more appropriate in exploring the precise physiological and pharmacological mechanisms in erection. Also, more natural and physiological sexual arousal instead of electrical or pharmacological stimulation is desirable in most of the studies. This article reviewed the development of ICP studies in rats and mice.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; blood supply ; physiopathology ; Regional Blood Flow ; physiology

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