Restoration of Penile Sensation Through Neurological Bypass in Rats

To explore the feasibility of the penile afferent pathway by the cutaneous branch of the genitofemoral nerve to the dorsal nerve of penile transfer in rats. A total of 54 male rats were randomly divided into model group (n = 18), resection group (n = 18), and sham group (n = 18). In the model group, the distal stump of bilateral DNP was anastomosed to the proximal stump of the bilateral CGN through end-to-end neurorrhaphy. In the resection group, bilateral DNP was severed and ligated, and no end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Only a surgical incision was made in the sham group, and no nerve injury was caused. After the operation, the feasibility of reconstructing the penile afferent pathway was explored by fluorescent-gold retrograde neural labeling. The intracavernous pressure assessment was then carried out. The morphological examination, histological staining of nerves, and ultrastructural observation were performed accordingly. Fluorescent-gold labeled L1 and L2 neurons in the model group were positive. The mean ICP in the model group was (12.02 ± 2.03 mmHg), which is higher than the mean value in the resection group (0 mmHg, P < .05) but lower than that in the sham group (36.95 ± 5.33 mmHg; P < .05). The morphological studies, HE, and ultrastructure observation revealed that the regeneration of DNP axons in the model group was significantly better than that in the resection group yet did not reach the level of the sham group. This experiment preliminarily proved the feasibility of restoration of the penile afferent pathway by CGN to DNP transfer in Rats.