Increases in clitoral and vaginal blood flow following clitoral and pelvic plexus nerve stimulations in the female rat

Abstract

The objective of this present study is to establish a model in the rat for the study of female clitoral and vaginal vascular changes during sexual excitation. A laser Doppler was used to measure blood flow changes following clitoral and pelvic plexus nerve stimulations. Results show an increase in clitoral blood flow following clitoral nerve (df₁=12, df₂=108, F=21.4, P<0.001) and pelvic plexus nerve stimulations (n=3). A vaginal blood flow increase is also observed following pelvic plexus nerve stimulations (df₁=12, df₂=108, F=4.75, P<0.001). The female rat can therefore be used as a model for the study of the physiology, pharmacology and sexual dysfunction relating to blood flow in clitoral and vaginal tissue.