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

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 exc itation. A laser Doppler was used to measure blood flow changes following c litoral and pelvic plexus nerve stimulations. Results show an increase in c litoral blood flow following clitoral nerve (df(1) = 12, df(2) = 108, F = 2 1.4, P < 0.001) and pelvic plexus nerve stimulations (n = 3). A vaginal blo od flow increase is also observed following pelvic plexus nerve stimulation s (df(1) = 12, df(2) = 108, F = 4.75, P < 0.001). The female rat can theref ore be used as a model for the study of the physiology, pharmacology and se xual dysfunction relating to blood flow in clitoral and vaginal tissue.