Cavernous nerve injury by radiotherapy may potentiate erectile dysfunction in rats

Radiation-induced erectile-dysfunction (RiED) is one of the most common side effects of radiotherapy (RT) and significantly reduces the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients. Approximately 50% of prostate cancer patients develop RiED within 3–5 years after completion of RT. A series of vascular, muscular, and neurogenic injuries after prostate RT lead to RiED, however, the precise role of RT-induced neurogenic injury in RiED has not been fully established. The cavernous nerves (CN) are post-ganglionic parasympathetic nerves located beside the prostate gland that assists in the penile erection.

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