Changes of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerve fibers and parameters for oxidative stress after unilateral cavernous nerve resection or manuplation in rat penis

After pelvic surgeries such as radical prostatectomy, two major complications - urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED) may occur. Etiologies for ED are multiple pathologic mediators/systems. Oxidative stress, which is known to be induced after surgical trauma, could be a cause of ED. The purposes of in this study are to investigate the effect of unilateral manipulation/dissection and resection of the cavernous nerve (neurotomy) to NOS (nitric oxide synthase)-containing nerve fibers and pressure after electro stimulation in rat corpus cavernosum, and to determine whether these procedures would produce oxidative stress within rat cavernous tissue 3 weeks and 6 months after the operation. Male rats were divided into 5 groups. Rats in groups 1 and 2 underwent unilateral cavernous nerve manipulation and sacrificed 3 weeks and 6 months after the operation, respectively. Rats in groups 3 and 4 underwent unilateral neurotomy of a 5-mm. segment of the cavernous nerve, and they were sacrificed 3 weeks and 6 months after nerve ablation, respectively. Group 5 rats were control animals for biochemical analysis. Intracavernous pressure following electro stimulation reduced is significantly 3 weeks after unilateral resection, as compared to that of the manipulated nerve (P < 0.05), and it recovered 6 months after neurotomy. The recovery was also confirmed by NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) diaphorase staining in neurotomy groups. Lipid peroxidation, which is an indicater of oxidative stress, was determined by measuring thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. These markers indicated that unilateral cavernous nerve manipulation or resection produced oxidative stress within rat corpus cavernosum. Oxidative stress was more prominent 3 weeks after unilateral neurotomy (P < 0.05). Also, compared to the control animal group, oxidative stress was observed three weeks after manipulation of unilateral cavernous nerve (P < 0.05). Resection of the cavernous nerve caused more prominent oxidative stress than in the manipulation group. This study suggested, that unilateral cavernous neurotomy caused a decrease of intra cavernous pressure and NOS fibers in rat corpus cavernosum, and they recovered 6 months after neurotomy. Our data also provided evidence that neurotomy and manipulation of the cavernous nerve caused oxidative stress in rat corpus cavernosum and that oxidative stress was more prominent in the nerve resection group.