First report of the histopathological effect of electrocautery using on the urethral taste rosea during glans penis injury by incision in rabbits

Objective: Currently, electrocautery devices have frequently been used in penile surgical procedures. We hypothesized that electrocautery using during penile surgical procedures may harm the taste rosea and the dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris.

Methods: Eighteen young age male New Zealand rabbits were studied: five in the control (Group I, n=5), five in the penile surgery without using electrocautery (sham group, Group II, n=5), eight in the monopolar cautery (study group, Group III, n=8) groups under general anesthesia. The animals were followed for 3 weeks and sacrificed. Penile tissue-pudendal nerve root complexes and dorsal root ganglion of sacral 3 level were examined using stereological methods. The results were compared statistically.

Results: The live and degenerated taste bud-like structures and degenerated neuron densities of pudendal ganglia (mean±standard deviation, n/mm³) were estimated as 198±24/mm³, 4±1/mm³, and 5±1/mm³ in Group I; 8±3/mm³, 174±21/mm³, and 24±7/mm³ in Group II; and 21±5/mm³, 137±14/mm³, and 95±12/mm³ in Group III, respectively. Neurodegeneration of taste buds and pudendal ganglia was significantly different between groups.

Conclusion: Intact spinal cord and normal parasympathetic and thoracolumbar sympathetic networks are crucial for human sexual function. The present study indicates that the glans penis injury by using electrocautery may lead to pudendal ganglia degeneration. Iatrogenic damage to taste rosea and retrograde degeneration of the pudendal nerve may be the cause of sexual dysfunction responsible mechanism.