Purpose: The present study outlines a novel in situ technique to assess the regulation of vascular resistance in the penile vascular bed of the Wistar rat.
Materials and methods: The isolation and perfusion of the pudendal artery were achieved by ligating all branches of the external iliac artery not directly connected to the internal pudendal artery.
Results: A linear flow-perfusion pressure curve was generated to ensure a viable preparation. A cumulative concentration-vascular response curve to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine (0.5-64 micrograms./ml.) was obtained.
Conclusions: This novel methodology will allow reproducible and consistent quantitative assessments of the numerous factors (both neural and hormonal) that are proposed to govern the flow of blood in the penile vascular bed.