Establishing a Thermal Imaging Technology (IRT) Based System for Evaluating Rat Erectile Function

Shuai Liu, MD, PhD; Zhendong Zhao, MD; Ziwen Wang, MD; Tongxiang Diao, MD, PhD; Keqin Zhang, MD, PhD; Hui Zhang, MD, PhD; Dingqi Sun, MD, PhD; Feng Kong, MD, PhD; Qiang Fu, MD, PhD

Sexual Medicine (Feb 2022)

Establishing a Thermal Imaging Technology (IRT) Based System for Evaluating Rat Erectile Function

Shuai Liu, MD, PhD,
Zhendong Zhao, MD,
Ziwen Wang, MD,
Tongxiang Diao, MD, PhD,
Keqin Zhang, MD, PhD,
Hui Zhang, MD, PhD,
Dingqi Sun, MD, PhD,
Feng Kong, MD, PhD,
Qiang Fu, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Shuai Liu, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China; Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, SD, China
Zhendong Zhao, MD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China; Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, SD, China
Ziwen Wang, MD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China
Tongxiang Diao, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China
Keqin Zhang, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China
Hui Zhang, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China
Dingqi Sun, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China
Feng Kong, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China; Corresponding Author: Feng Kong, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 9677 Jing Shi Rd, Jinan, Shandong, P, Jinan, SD 25002, China. Tel: +86053168777945;
Qiang Fu, MD, PhD: Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, SD, China; Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, SD, China; Corresponding Author: Qiang Fu, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 9677 Jing Shi Rd, Jinan, Shandong, P, Jinan, SD 25002, China. Tel: +86053168772911;

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 100475

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Introduction: Measurement of intra-cavernous pressure (ICP) is an internationally recognized method to evaluate erectile function of animals, however, this process is invasive, destructive, and cannot be repeated, leading to a daunting challenge for monitoring the changes in erectile function throughout the whole treatment duration. Aim: To verify whether infrared ray thermography technology based system could be a good substitution of ICP for evaluating rat erectile function. Methods: A novel thermal image-based method, infrared ray thermography technology (IRT) was employed to monitor erectile function in erectile dysfunction (ED) rats. To detect the sensitivity and specificity of this new technology, 4 ED rat models (Diabetic, nerve-injury, vascular-injury and aged ED models) were established and subjected to both ICP and IRT test. Outcomes: Statistical comparisons were done to test the effectiveness of this new way for detecting and dynamically monitoring erectile function. Results: Based on the data curves obtained from ICP and IRT, the IRT showed a similar trend (including peak value, climbing speed) as that of ICP. IRT is considered as a precise way to monitor the real-time changes of erectile function in all ED rat models. The AUC of peak temperature detected by IRT in DMED, aged ED, vascular-injury ED, the nerve-injury ED and total ED rat models were 0.9811,0.9836,0.9893,0.9989 and 0.9882, respectively. Meanwhile, the AUC of temperature climbing rate were 0.6486,0.8357,0.9184,0.8675and 0.8168.Also,it is a non-invasive process of dynamically monitoring erectile function of a same rat at different time points (before and after drug intervention). The data showed that the real-time recovery by tadalafil was obtained by IRT methods even after treatment for only 2 weeks in the diabetic ED (DMED) rat model. Conclusion: A novel noninvasive method for monitoring erectile function in rat ED models was established, and can replace or supplement ICP test.Liu S, Zhao Z, Wang Z et al. Establishing a Thermal Imaging Technology (IRT) Based System for Evaluating Rat Erectile Function. Sex Med 2022;10:100475.

Published in Sexual Medicine

ISSN: 2050-1161 (Online)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://academic.oup.com/smoa

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