An in vivo study was conducted on Sprague-Dawley rat to investigate the role of acetylcholine (ACh) on penile erection. This was performed by simultaneously monitoring intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and systemic blood pressure after
intracavernosal
injection of ACh, anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) or atropine, with and without cavenosal nerve stimulation, Increase of basal ICP was not observed in the group with ACh(0.01 to 0.05 μg) on nerve induced erection (NIE) was to enhance the results
obtained
by NIE alone, i.e., 55mmHg with NIE alone to 77 mmHg with ACh pretreatment plus NIE, in mean ICP (n=9, P<0.05). A similar finding was observed in the group with anti-ChE pretreatment (0.01 to 1.0μg), i.e., 56mmHg with NIE alone to 84 mmHg with
anti-ChE
pretreatment plus NIE, in men ICP(n=14, P<0.05). Conversely, NIE was markedly reduced in the group with atropine pretreatment (0.01 to 1.0μg) in dose dependent manner, i.e., 58mmHg with NIE alone to 38 mmHg with atropine pretreatment plus. NIE,
in
mean
ICP(n=13, P<0.05). These results indicate that ACh does play a significant role in penile erection and it may require a cooperative action of other neurotransmitter to induce in vivo penile erection.
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