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Models for sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia and stress urinary incontinence
Author(s) -
Kakizaki Hidehiro,
Kita Masafumi,
Wada Naoki
Publication year - 2011
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.21138
Subject(s) - medicine , pudendal nerve , urethral sphincter , spinal cord , urethra , afferent , animal model , urinary bladder , spinal cord injury , urinary incontinence , hypogastric nerve , urology , stimulation , anatomy , psychiatry
Aims To discuss (1) animal models for investigating bladder afferent pathways from the spinal cord to the brain and (2) animal models of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with a special emphasis on functional and histopathological characteristics of each model. Methods Literature review of spinal mechanisms of bladder afferent pathways and animal models of SUI. Results Electrophysiological studies in the rat using pelvic nerve stimulation and recording of evoked potentials in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) prove to be a valuable tool to examine spinal mechanisms of bladder afferent pathways. Animal models of SUI in the rat include vaginal distention as simulated birth trauma, pudendal nerve crush or transection, urethral sphincter injury by electrocauterization, transabdominal urethrolysis, periurethral botulinum‐A toxin injection, and pubo‐urethral ligament transection. Functional and histopathological changes in the continence mechanism after injury are different between models. Conclusions Using animal models for sensory neurons, intrathecal and intravenous administration of certain drugs can be tested whether they affect the bladder afferent pathways from the spinal cord to the PAG. Animal models of SUI can serve as a tool to develop new pharmacologic therapies or periurethral injection therapies using stem cell implants. Neurourol. Urodynam. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:653–657, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.