Saphenous nerve stimulation normalizes bladder underactivity induced by tibial nerve stimulation in cats.

Abstract

This study in α-chloralose-anesthetized cats aimed at investigating the bladder responses to saphenous nerve stimulation (SNS). A urethral catheter was used to infuse the bladder with saline and to record changes in bladder pressure. With the bladder fully distended, SNS at 1-Hz frequency and an intensity slightly below the threshold (T) for inducing an observable motor response of the hindlimb muscles induced large amplitude (40-150 cmH2O) bladder contractions. Application of SNS (1 Hz, 2-4T) during cystometrograms (CMGs), when the bladder was slowly (1-3 ml/min) infused with saline, significantly ( P < 0.05) increased the duration of the micturition contraction to >200% of the control without changing bladder capacity or contraction amplitude. Repeated application (1-8 times) of intense (4-8T intensity) 30-min tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) produced prolonged post-TNS inhibition that significantly ( P < 0.01) increased bladder capacity to 135.9 ± 7.6% and decreased the contraction amplitude to 44.1 ± 16.5% of the pre-TNS control level. During the period of post-TNS inhibition, SNS (1 Hz, 2-4T) applied during CMGs completely restored the bladder capacity and the contraction amplitude to the pre-TNS control level and almost doubled the duration of the micturition contraction. These results indicate that SNS at 1 Hz can facilitate the normal micturition reflex and normalize the reflex when it is suppressed during post-TNS inhibition. This study provides an opportunity to develop a novel neuromodulation therapy for underactive bladder using SNS.

• Authors: Shun Li, Xing Li, Katherine Theisen, Jeffery Browning, Bing Shen, Jicheng Wang, James R Roppolo, William C de Groat, Changfeng Tai
• Journal: American journal of physiology. Renal physiology (Am J Physiol Renal Physiol) Vol. 315 Issue 2 Pg. F247-F253 (08 01 2018) ISSN: 1522-1466 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29070575 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Topics

• Animals
• Cats
• Disease Models, Animal
• Electric Stimulation
• Female
• Male
• Pressure
• Recovery of Function
• Reflex
• Tibial Nerve (physiopathology)
• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (methods)
• Urinary Bladder (innervation)
• Urinary Bladder, Underactive (etiology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Urination
• Urodynamics