RESUMO
Objective To investigate the modified method of intracavernous cannulation in monitoring intracavernous pressure (ICP) of rats.Methods The present study was conducted from October to December 2014.Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups,the conventional group (cannulated in the crus of the penis) and the modified group (cannulated in the corporal body of the penis).The erectile function of the rats was assessed by measuring ICP/MAP (mean arterial pressure) ratio.The electrical-stimulation (ES) parameters were 5 V,15 Hz,5 ms,and 60 s for each stimulation.Results The differences in the basic ICP (14.9 ± 2.7 versus 15.5 ± 3.1 mmHg),ES-ICP (87.6 ± 7.5 versus 85.0 ± 6.2 mmHg),and ICP/MAP (71.3％ ± 6.6％ versus 72.5％ ± 6.3％) were not significant between the 2 groups (P ＞0.05 for all).Compared with the conventional group,the modified group could accurately cannulate the corpus cavernosum under direct vision,with an improved successful rate (100％ versus 80％),but there was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) in intracavernous pressure measurement.Conclusion The modified method of cannulating in the corpus cavernosum could have the advantage of higher successful rate,suggesting a feasible way for basic research of erectile dysfunction in rats.