Vol. 42 (3): 608-613, May – June, 2016
doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2015.0135
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Can intraurethral stimulation inhibit micturition reflex in normal female rats?
Tian Yu 1,2,3,4, Limin Liao 3,4, Jean Jacques Wyndaele 1,2
1 Department translational neurosciences, Laboratory Urology, University of Antwerp, Faculty GGW, Belgium; 2 Department of Urology, University Hopsital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; 3 Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; 4 Department of Urology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study was designed to determine the effect of low frequency (2.5Hz) in¬traurethral electrical stimulation on bladder capacity and maximum voiding pressures.
Materials and Methods: The experiments were conducted in 15 virgin female Sprague¬-Dawley rats (220–250g). The animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of urethane (1.5g/kg). Animal care and experimental procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Antwerp University (code: 2013-50). Unipolar square pulses of 0.06mA were used to stimulate urethra at frequency of 2.5Hz (0.2ms pulse width) in order to evaluate the ability of intraurethral stimulation to inhibit bladder contractions. Continuous stimulation and intermittent stimulation with 5sec ‘‘on’’ and 5sec ‘‘off’’ duty cycle were applied during repeated sa¬line cystometrograms (CMGs). Maximum voiding pressures (MVP) and bladder capaci¬ty were investigated to determine the inhibitory effect on bladder contraction induced by intraurethral stimulation.
Results: The continuous stimulation and intermittent stimulation significantly (p<0.05) decreased MVP and increased bladder capacity. There was no significant difference in MVP and bladder capacity between continuous and intermittent stimulation group.
Conclusions: The present results suggest that 2.5Hz continuous and intermittent in¬traurethral stimulation can inhibit micturition reflex, decrease MVP and increase blad¬der capacity. There was no significant difference in MVP and bladder capacity between continuous and intermittent stimulation group.
Keywords: Urination; Urodynamics; Rats; Urinary Bladder
