Zhang X, Hu L, Zheng X, Li S
Research Center of Urology and Andrology, Hubei Medical University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2001 Apr;114(4):391-3.
To investigate the effect of cavernous nerve injury on the nNOS-containing nerve fibers in corpus cavernosum.
Thirty-three male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated controls (n = 5) underwent pelvic exploration without transection of the cavernous nerve; unilateral injury group (n = 14) had their cavernous nerve cut on one side; and bilateral injury group (n = 14) underwent neurotomy on both sides. Corpora cavernosa were harvested at the 3rd week and 6th month after surgery. nNOS-positive nerve fibers were examined with streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry techniques (SP method).
After bilateral ablation, the nNOS-positive nerve fibers were significantly decreased at the 3rd week (17 +/- 4) and remained so at the 6th month (16 +/- 4). For the unilateral injury group, the nNOS-positive nerve fibers were similarly decreased on the side of the neurotomy at the 3rd week (18 +/- 6), but by the 6th month, the number increased significantly (61 +/- 9) and approximated the level on the contralateral side (81 +/- 13).
Following unilateral cavernous nerve ablation in rats, nNOS-containing nerve fibers regenerate 6 months after surgery. This regeneration process does not occur in animals with bilateral cavernous nerve injury, suggesting that during radical pelvic surgery, the cavernous nerve has to be preserved at least on one side in order to maintain the capacity for penile erection.
研究海绵体神经损伤对阴茎海绵体内含神经元型一氧化氮合酶（nNOS）神经纤维的影响。
33只雄性Sprague Dawley（SD）大鼠随机分为3组：假手术对照组（n = 5），仅行盆腔探查，不切断海绵体神经；单侧损伤组（n = 14），一侧海绵体神经切断；双侧损伤组（n = 14），双侧行神经切断术。于术后第3周和第6个月取阴茎海绵体。采用链霉亲和素-过氧化物酶免疫组织化学技术（SP法）检测nNOS阳性神经纤维。
双侧神经切断后，第3周时nNOS阳性神经纤维显著减少（17±4），第6个月时仍保持减少状态（16±4）。单侧损伤组，在神经切断侧，第3周时nNOS阳性神经纤维同样减少（18±6），但到第6个月时，数量显著增加（61±9），接近对侧水平（81±13）。
大鼠单侧海绵体神经切断后，含nNOS的神经纤维在术后6个月再生。双侧海绵体神经损伤的动物未出现这种再生过程，提示在根治性盆腔手术中，至少需保留一侧海绵体神经以维持阴茎勃起功能。
