Effects of Partial Bladder Outlet Obstruction on Contraction and Relaxation Response of Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum

It has been well established that erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common incident in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. Animal models have been described to investigate the relationship between bladder obstruction and ED. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) induces changes in the contraction and relaxation response of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) of the penis in the rabbit model. Partial bladder obstruction was performed in rabbits as previously described. After 2 and 4 weeks of follow-up, control, sham-operated (2- and 4-week duration) and partial bladder outlet obstructed (obstruction of 2- and 4-week duration) rabbits were sacrificed and their bladder masses determined. Then CCSM tissue was obtained. Contraction responses induced by 124 m<i>M</i> KCl, phenylephrine (10^–6 to 10^–4<i>M</i>) and relaxation responses induced by doxazosin (10^–7 to 10^–5<i>M</i>) in CCSM of rabbits were determined. The obtained contraction and relaxation responses of all groups were compared. Bladder weight was significantly higher in PBOO groups than in control and sham-operated rabbits. Contraction responses induced by KCl and phenylephrine were statistically enhanced in the 4-week PBOO groups than controls. However, there was no statistically significant difference in any KCl, phenylephrine and doxazosin responses between 2- and 4-week sham-operated and PBOO groups. The rabbit model of PBOO described for the studies which examine bladder responses is useful for creating bladder outlet obstruction. However, this model is not suitable for the investigation of outlet obstruction-related ED.