To investigate the feasibility of erectile function rehabilitation using end-to-side autonomic-to-somatic neurorrhaphy in rats.
Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n =12 per group): end-to-side coaptation group: the left L6 and S1 spinal nerves were transected, and the distal stump of L6 ventral root (L6VR) was sutured to L4 ventral root (L4VR) through end-to-side neurorrhaphy; no-coaptation group: the rats did not undergo coaptation; and control group: the left L6 and S1 spinal nerves were transected, but L6VR was preserved.