The nature of spontaneous cavernosal activity

Abstract

Objective To determine the characteristics of spontaneous cavernosal activity (SCA) and to relate this to previous descriptions of spontaneous potentials from the cavernosum (single potential analysis of cavernosal activity, SPACE). Subjects and methods The SCA was recorded in 31 normal men with no sexual problems; various manipulations were applied using concentric‐needle (CN), bipolar needle (BN) and surface electrodes. The electrical activity was compared with the observed slow retractile movements of the flaccid penis and with other assessments of electrical activity from skin. Results SCA appeared synchronously from both sides of the cavernosal bodies in all normal subjects when detected by CN electrodes. The synchronous recordings both by CN and BN electrodes, or both by CN and surface electrodes registered similar oscillatory potentials. Slow retractile movements of the penis occurred synchronously with these potentials in all subjects and both were absent during erection. Conclusion SCA is apparently related to biomechanical slow movement artefacts of the flaccid penis; it may be a consequence of the summed contractions of smooth muscle groups in the cavernosum. Observing the small retractile slow movements of the flaccid penis and recording the SCA may be a useful indirect method to characterize cavernosal neural innervation and smooth muscle activity.

Autonomic nerve involvement and venous leakage in diabetic men with impotence

“…In normal subjects, the SCA was always recorded as periodic bursts of slow oscillations with high amplitude and low frequency, that recurred with intervals of ≥ 25 s (mean frequency 0.91 Hz, sd 0.43) and appeared synchronously from both sides of the cavernosal bodies (Fig. 1 a ) [ 9].…”

“…The SCA was determined as described by Stief et al [ 8] and the details reported [ 9]. The SCA was recorded from the 34 patients with diabetic impotence and the 10 with idiopathic venous leakage; 27 normal men were also investigated (mean age 44 years, range 23–70).…”

Role of penile electrodermal activity in the evaluation of autonomic innervation of corpus cavernosum

“…Since then, CC-EMG has been widely investigated and the nature of the recorded waves and their role in demonstrating autonomic dysfunction and smooth muscle degeneration has been evaluated. 12,13,23 It was reported that in addition to spontaneous activity, evoked cavernous activity (with electrical and other stimuli) was recorded from the corpus cavernosum. 6,24 Sympathetic fibers regulating sudomotor activity of penile skin and smooth muscle activity of corpus cavernosum originate from lumbar spinal cord and they travel in close proximity to the lumbar postganglia and then to the genital area through hypogastric nerve.…”

“…In another study, it was reported that CC-EMG and penile EDA were different activities due to spatial difference of waves observed during simultaneous spontaneous activity recordings and their different responses at various physiological conditions. 23 However, during recording from corpus cavernosum with a concentric needle and from penile skin with a surface electrode, although they appear in different time periods, both the oscillations due to smooth muscle activity of cavernous body and EDA are expected to occur simultaneously. In addition, the contribution of electrical changes in both tissues to the potentials recorded from penile skin after a certain stimulus is expected.…”