Abstract
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 botulinumβA toxin injection, and puboβurethral 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. 30:653β657, 2011. Β© 2011 WileyβLiss, Inc.