Angiography of the Internal Pudendal Artery at Electrical Stimulation of the Pelvic Nerves and at Injection of Posterior Pituitary Hormones: An Experimental Study of the Erectile Tissue in the Male Dog

Abstract

A technique for catheterization of the internal pudendal artery has been developed. By serial angiography it is possible to study the erectile tissue of the penis. At electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerves, the blood flow increases and there is engorgement of the cavernous tissue. Vasopressin in small doses causes marked dilatation of the pudendal artery and moderate filling of the urethral bulb. The effect diminishes after 15 min and is over after 30 min. The prostatic gland, on the other hand, is often strongly opacified for at least an hour after the administration of vasopressin. With large doses of vasopressin there is constriction of the pudendal artery and a diminished blood flow. Oxytocin has a vaso-pressin-like action, if given in high dosage.