HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 77/4/717    most recent biolreprod.107.060921v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bernabé, J. Articles by Giuliano, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bernabé, J. Articles by Giuliano, F. Agricola Articles by Bernabé, J. Articles by Giuliano, F.

Seminal Plug Expulsion Induced by Electrical Stimulation of the Intermesenteric Nerve in Anesthetized Rats

Pelvipharm Laboratories,² CNRS, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France AP-HP,³ Neuro-Uro-Andrology, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, 92380 Garches, France University of Versailles Saint Quentin,⁴ UFR Paris Ile-de-France Ouest, 78000 Versailles, France

ABSTRACT

Synchronized activation of autonomic and somatic divisions of the nervous system respectively destined to the seminal tract, including the bladder neck and the pelvi-perineal striated musculature, is necessary for anterograde ejaculation. We aimed at investigating the role of intermesenteric nerves (IMNs) in ejaculation in anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation of intact IMNs and distal and proximal stumps of the sectioned IMN were tested in isoflurane-anesthetized male rats. Electrical stimulation of the intact IMN was also applied to rats with acute spinal transection at the T8 level. The effects of IMN electrical stimulation on emission and expulsion phases of ejaculation were evaluated by measuring seminal vesicle pressure (SVP) and bulbospongiosus (BS) muscle contractions, respectively. IMN electrical stimulation could induce SVP increase and rhythmic contractions of BS muscle concomitantly with expulsion of the seminal plug. When compared with intact IMN electrical stimulation, the occurrence of ejaculation and rhythmic BS muscle contractions, but not SVP increase, was reduced in response to electrical stimulation of the distal stump of the sectioned IMN. In comparison to intact IMN electrical stimulation, the occurrence of ejaculation and rhythmic BS muscle contractions was not significantly modified, whereas the increase in SVP was diminished when the proximal stump of the sectioned IMN was stimulated. Spinalization abolished ejaculation and rhythmic BS muscle contraction but did not impair SVP increase. It is concluded that both afferents conveyed by IMN and relaying supraspinally and efferents of IMN are involved in IMN electrical stimulation-induced ejaculation. We propose that the IMN electrical stimulation paradigm can be used to investigate physiological and pharmacologic aspects of ejaculation.

bulbospongiosus muscle, central nervous system, ejaculation, intermesenteric nerve, male sexual function, rat, seminal vesicles