Role of the Bulbocavernosus Muscles on the Mechanism of
Human Erection

Wespes, Eric; Nogueira, Michelle; Herbaut, Anne-Geneviève; Caufriez, Marcel; Schulman, Claude

doi:10.1159/000463865

Cited by 48 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…The most androgen-dependent fraction (affected by single androgen ablation or blockade) of the erectile response may have a mechanism, or may correspond to tissue components, different from the those operating in the least sensitive compartment (affected only by the combination of androgen ablation and blockade). Examples of penile erection-related tissues that are highly sensitive to androgen depletion are the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus striated muscles, which are considerably reduced in size after orchiectomy in rats [38] and are assumed to be involved in the achievement of a rigid erection in humans [39]. Recent experiments suggest that the venous occlusion mechanism may also be androgen-dependent [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgen and Pituitary Control of Penile Nitric Oxide Synthase and Erectile Function in the Rat1

Penson

Cai

et al. 1996

Biology of Reproduction

130

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Castration of adult male rats reduces by half the penile erectile response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the cavernosal nerve, and the activity of penile nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Both changes are prevented by androgen administration. We have now investigated whether other strategies of androgen ablation or competition may act as stronger inhibitors, and, if so, whether the stronger inhibition is due to the depletion of penile NOS content. Rats were castrated or left intact and were treated daily as follows: 1) intact, with the antiandrogen flutamide (25 mg/kg/day, i.p.); 2) castrated, with similar treatment; 3) castrated, with 17 beta-estradiol 3-benzoate (estradiol; via silastic tubing, s.c.). Additional groups of intact rats received injections of a GnRH antagonist (GnRHA, 1.25 mg/kg, s.c.), or were hypophysectomized and left untreated. Controls were untreated intact and castrated animals. After 7 days, rats were subjected to EFS, and the ratios between maximal intracavernosal pressure (MIP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured. Penile NOS activity and the contents of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) were determined. Castration reduced the MIP:MAP ratio and penile NOS activity. Androgen receptor blockade with flutamide induced a similar response in intact rats. When flutamide treatment was combined with castration, the erectile response was nearly abolished, but NOS activity was not decreased below the values in castrated rats. Estradiol given to castrated rats and hypophysectomy or GnRHA treatment in intact rats diminished the erectile response below the level in castrated animals. In hypophysectomized rats, penile NOS activity fell below levels in castrated animals. contents of nNOS and eNOS were not significantly reduced by any treatment. These data suggest that penile erection in the rat is completely dependent on androgens, presumably because of their role in the maintenance of penile NOS activity and of other ancillary factors. However, only the complete blockade of residual androgen effects at the tissue level or a total androgen depletion can abolish the erectile response.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgen and Pituitary Control of Penile Nitric Oxide Synthase and Erectile Function in the Rat1

Penson

Cai

et al. 1996

Biology of Reproduction

130

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“…Some studies have shown increased ischiocavernosus and bulbocavernosus muscle activity during penile erection. 41,42 It is known that these muscles have a role in the initiation and maintenance of human penile erection. 43 It is also known that the contraction of the ischiocavernosus muscle induces a more rigid erection because of the compression of the congested cavernous bodies and consequent increase in the intracavernous pressure.…”

Section: 15--1729mentioning

confidence: 99%

Early postoperative pelvic-floor biofeedback improves erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

et al. 2012

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence are common complications following radical prostatectomy (RP). Although pelvic-floor biofeedback training (PFBT) may improve urinary continence following RP, its effects on the recovery of potency are unknown. Fifty-two patients selected for RP were prospectively randomized for a treatment group (n ¼ 26) receiving PFBT once a week for 3 months and home exercises or a control group (n ¼ 26), in which patients received verbal instructions to contract the pelvic floor. Erectile function (EF) was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Patients were considered potent when they had a total IIEF-5 score 420. Continence status was assessed and defined as the use of no pads. Groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, diabetes, pathological tumor stage and neurovascular bundle preservation. A significant reduction in IIEF-5 scores was observed after surgery in both groups. In the treatment group, 8 (47.1%) patients recovered potency 12 months postoperatively, as opposed to 2 (12.5%) in the control group (P ¼ 0.032). The absolute risk reduction was 34.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8--64%) and the number needed to treat was 3 (95% CI: 1.5--17.2). A strong association between recovery of potency and urinary continence was observed, with continent patients having a 5.4 higher chance of being potent (P ¼ 0.04). Early PFBT appears to have a significant impact on the recovery of EF after RP. Urinary continence status was a good indicator of EF recovery, with continent patients having a higher chance of being potent. 1 The most common long-term complications after prostatectomy (RP) are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED).2 ED is estimated to affect 26--100% of patients after surgery. 3,4 The main cause of ED after RP is neurogenic, because of intraoperative injury to the neurovascular bundle.

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“…Studying EMG activities during penile reflexes evoked by tactile stimulation can be one of the clues to solve this problem. Since the importance of the BS and IC muscles are suggested in human penile erection [14,15], further studies should be encouraged to understand the physiological mechanisms of these perineal muscles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromyography of Male Rat Perineal Musculature during Copulatory Behavior

Miura

Kondo²,

Akimoto³

et al. 2001

Urol Int

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Electromyogram (EMG) recordings were made from the bulbospongiosus (BS) and ischiocavernosus (IC) muscles of the awake male rat in order to evaluate the roles played by these muscles in the implementation of penile intromission during a copulatory encounter. Male rats with bipolar wire electrodes implanted chronically in the BS and IC muscles were mated with sexually receptive females. Concurrent videotape recordings established a relationship between EMG and components of male rat copulatory behavior, i.e. mount, intromission and ejaculation. On EMGs recorded from the IC muscle, the initial low-amplitude phase at the initiation of each behavioral component was distinguished from the late high-amplitude phase whenever the male accomplished mounting or intromission. In the BS muscle, the late high-amplitude phase was observed only when the male accomplished intromission. Power spectrum analysis by fast Fourier transformation revealed that in the IC muscle the two phases differed at an overall range of 100–1,000 Hz. In the BS muscle, however, the spectra of the two phases differed at a specific range of 400–600 Hz. Recruitment of additional motor units would culminate in such a characteristic rise in the power spectrum. The results suggest that somatosensory inputs contingent on the intromission cause such recruitment in the BS to regulate penile cups and other movements.

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Role of the Bulbocavernosus Muscles on the Mechanism of Human Erection

Cited by 48 publications

References 0 publications

Androgen and Pituitary Control of Penile Nitric Oxide Synthase and Erectile Function in the Rat1

Androgen and Pituitary Control of Penile Nitric Oxide Synthase and Erectile Function in the Rat1

Early postoperative pelvic-floor biofeedback improves erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

Electromyography of Male Rat Perineal Musculature during Copulatory Behavior

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