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Paick, Lee, Yoon, Ahn, Lho, Yang, and Kim: The Usefulness of Non-contact Erection Observation for Evaluation Sexual Function in Male Rat
Original Article
Korean Journal of Urology

Korean Journal of Urology 2006; 47(10): 1107-1110.

Published online: 31 October 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2006.47.10.1107

The Usefulness of Non-contact Erection Observation for Evaluation Sexual Function in Male Rat

Sung Hyun Paick, Byung Ki Lee, Sung Wook Yoon, Chang Hoe Ahn1, Yong Soo Lho, Sang Kook Yang, Hyeong Gon Kim

Department of Urology, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

1Department of Urology, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Corresponding author (khgsjh@kuh.ac.kr)

Received 15 May 2006       Accepted 4 July 2006

Copyright © 2006 The Korean Urological Association

Abstract

Purpose

Evaluation of sexual function is an important step for animal studies about sexual function. Male rats could display penile erection in the presence of an inaccessible estrous female. We examined the usefulness of observing non-contact erection (NCE) for the evaluation of sexual function in male rats.

Materials and Methods

Forty five Long-Evans male rats (8 weeks old) were used in this study. Tests for NCE were conducted in a glass chamber divided in half by 2 wire-mesh screens that prevented direct contact, but the rats freely passed other forms of stimulation. If at least 1 NCE could be observed during 45 minutes, we considered this as a positive response. In case of two or three positive responses in three NCE tests, that was considered as NCE (+). After NCE, copulation observations were noted to evaluate sexual function. If at least two ejaculations could be observed during 45 minutes, we considered that a positive response. In case of two or three positive responses in three copulation observations, that was considered as normal sexual function.

Results

Twenty one of 45 male rats (47%) were NCE (+) and 34 of 45 male rats (76%) had normal sexual function. In 21 NCE (+) rats, 20 rats had normal sexual function: only one was impotent. The positive predictive value of the NCE observation for the evaluation of sexual function was 95%. In 11 impotent rats, 10 rats were NCE (-). The specificity of the NCE observation was 91%.

Conclusions

These results indicated that NCE observation could be a useful method for evaluating the sexual function of male rat.

Keywords: Non-contact erection, Copulation, Sexual function, Rats

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Relationship between copulation and the NCE observation results
kju-47-1107-i001

NCE: non-contact erection, +: positive response twice or three times in three tests, -: no response or only one response in three tests

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