Castration and Erection

Castrated dogs (n = 3) need a much higher threshold level of energy to induce erection by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve than noncastrated animals (n = 24). In addition the resulting quality of erection, measured as maximal intracavernous pressure (pCC) versus peak systolic blood pressure (BP), was weaker in castrated dogs (pCC = 57% of BP on average) than in noncastrated dogs (pCC = 80% of BP on average). A high venous outflow from the corpora cavernosa in castrated dogs can also explain the shorter duration of erection. This experimental model excludes the interference of subjective factors, such as erotic stimuli and libido on erection, and it seems that androgen deficienc…