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The effect of hexamethonium on the distension‐induced contractile activity of the rat bladder: Evidence for the existence of a spinal ‘short‐loop’ vesicovestioal reflex in rats
Author(s) -
Maggi Carlo Alberto,
Santicioli Paolo,
Meli Alberto
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.1930050407
Subject(s) - hexamethonium , medicine , distension , reflex , spinal cord , anesthesia , endocrinology , stimulation , psychiatry
Saline distension of the bladder in urethane‐anaesthetized rats elicited three types of phasic contractions: (a) a low amplitude (<4 mmHg) asynchronous contractile activity which is hexamethonium‐resistant; (b) an intermediate amplitude (8–16 mmHg) rhythmic contractile activity that was still present in spinal (C2‐C3) rats and was eliminated by hexamethonium; and (c) a high amplitude (>20 mmHg) rhythmic contractile activity that was eliminated by spinal cord transection or hexamethonium. All types of hexamethonium‐sensitive rhythmic contractile activity having an amplitude higher than 4–6 mmHg were prevented by destruction of the lumbosacral spinal cord. It is concluded that in adult rats two distinct types of vesicovesical reflex activity organized at spinal and supraspinal level, respectively, could be elicited by distension at a physiological‐like filling rate.