Relationship Between Cavernosal Ischemia and Corporal Veno-Occlusive Dysfunction in an Animal Model
Abstract
Purpose:
It has been postulated that cavernosal tissue ischemia secondary to arterial occlusive disease is associated with corporal veno-occlusive dysfunction. The goal was to correlate, for the first time, direct local intracavernosal blood flow measurements as a measure of cavernosal tissue perfusion with the integrity of corporal veno-occlusion in an animal model of vasculogenic impotence.
Materials and Methods:
The New Zealand White rabbit model of vasculogenic impotence was utilized (7 control, 9 atherosclerotic). After 16 weeks, intracavernosal blood flow was recorded directly by laser Doppler flowmetry. The relationships among peak intracavernosal blood flow, equilibrium intracavernosal pressure and corporal veno-occlusive function (as determined by intracavernosal pressure decay) were examined.
Results:
Significant differences in the atherosclerotic compared to control animals were noted in iliac artery blood flow (12 +/- 4 vs 31 +/- 7 ml./min.), peak intracavernosal blood flow during erection (16 +/- 7 vs 25 +/- 4 ml./min./100 gm. tissue), equilibrium intracavernosal pressure (48 +/- 11 vs 72 +/- 6 mm. Hg) and intracavernosal pressure decay (57 +/- 17 vs 36 +/- 8 mm. Hg). Peak intracavernosal blood flow during erection was found significantly related to both equilibrium pressure (r = 0.75) and cavernosal pressure decay (r = -0.8).
Conclusions:
Abnormal intracavernosal blood flow (cavernosal ischemia) secondary to arterial occlusive disease predicts abnormal veno-occlusive function and poor erection quality.
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Department of Urology and Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, and the Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
