Changes in the noradrenaline content of the female rat urinary bladder after transient acute overdistension

The effect of transient acute overdistension produced by forced diuresis and outflow occlusion was examined in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Their bladders were distented for three hours and studied at selected intervals during the postoperative period using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the exact measurement of tissue noradrenaline. Biopsies were taken from the bladder dome and anterior body 10 hours, 2 days, 7 days and 21 days after overdistension. A reduction in NA concentration was found in both the dome and anterior body at 2 to 21 days after distension. The results demonstrated at least partial transient damage to the adrenergic nerves containing NA. The primary success of the distension therapy used to treat bladder instability may be due to this injury.