The optimal parameters of electrical stimulation for penile erection in dogs
Lin, S.N.; Wang, J.M.; Ma, C.P.; Chen, H.I.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 84(7): 842-849
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0371-7682 PMID: 3864926 Document Number: 253642
Electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves to elicit penile erection was carried out in male dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital. Full erection of the penis was determined by an increase in the pressure inside the corpus cavernosa (intracorporeal pressure, ICP) to a level close to the diastolic arterial pressure. We investigated the optimal parameters for the stimulation-induced ICP elevation. With fixed pulse duration of 2 ms and frequency of 20 Hz, the ICP was increased from the baseline of 15 .+-. 3 (mean .+-. SD) mmHg to 31 .+-. 4, 98 .+-. 9, 103 .+-. 14, 97 .+-. 10, 102 .+-. 11 and 85 .+-. 10 mmHg by various intensities of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 V, respectively (n = 10). The data suggested that the optimal intensity ranged 2-8 V. The frequency-dependent ICP changes were investigated (n = 10) by coupling the stimulation with single fixed pulse duration (2 ms) and different fixed intensities (2-10 V). With low intensity (2 V), the maximal ICP increases were produced by 10, 20, 30 and 40 Hz. With high intensity (10 V), the highest ICP was found at 20 and 30 Hz. Consequently, the optimal frequency for either low or high intensity fell within a range of 20-30 Hz. When the voltage was fixed at 2 V and frequency at 20 Hz (n = 6), a pulse duration of 0.1 ms was capable of inducing full erectile state. Further increase in the pulse duration did not enhance the ICP response. The use of optimal parameters combination (2-4 V, 10-20 Hz and 2-4 ms) elicited sustained penile erection in 5 dogs during continuous stimulation lasting 30-90 min. Furthermore, we observed that either contralateral or bilateral stimulation produced essentially the same effect as did ipsilateral stimulation.