Erectile function of male rats in different age groups: an experimental study / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between aging and erectile function changes in rats in order to establish a rat model of aging-related erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty male Wistar rats were equally divided into four age groups (3-, 6-, 12- and 18-month) and treated with intragastric administration of sildenafil citrate (Sn) for penile erection tests. Twenty 3-month-old female Wistar rats were randomized to four groups as oestrous rat models. We recorded the rate and frequency of penile erections of the male rats in different age groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of penile erection were 85%, 75%, 40% and 30% and erectile frequencies were 2.27 +/- 0.80, 2.00 +/- 0.61, 1.40 +/- 0.51 and 1.29 +/- 0.49 in the 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-month rats, respectively, with statistically significant differences among different age groups (P < 0.01). And their erectile function exhibited a tendency to decrease with the increase of age. Besides, comparison of the 3-month with the 6-, 12- and 18-month groups showed significantly reduced erectile function in the 18-month rats (P < 0.05) but no remarkable difference between the 3-month and the 6- and 12-month groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aging is one of the main risk factors of rat erectile dysfunction, and 18-month-old male rats are qualified for the establishment of the rat model of aging-related erectile dysfunction.</p>