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Contractile properties of the developing fetal sheep bladder
Peter Nyirády1, Nikesh Thiruchelvam, Margaret L Godley
1Semmelweis University Department of Urology, Budapest, Hungary. nyiradyp@hotmail.com
Neurourology and Urodynamics
|March 26, 2005
Summary
Fetal sheep bladder detrusor smooth muscle shows increased contractile function with development. Muscle development is largely complete by 110 days, with innervation continuing until term.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Developmental Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Understanding fetal bladder development is crucial for diagnosing and managing congenital urinary tract abnormalities.
- The detrusor smooth muscle's contractile properties change significantly during gestation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro contractile properties of fetal sheep detrusor smooth muscle at different gestational ages.
- To characterize developmental changes in bladder function during fetal development.
Main Methods:
- Isometric contractions of isolated detrusor smooth muscle strips from fetal sheep (65-70, 105-110, 135-140 days gestation) were measured.
- Stimulation methods included electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exposure to agonists: carbachol, alpha-beta methylene-ATP (ABMA), and KCl.
Main Results:
- Absolute force from EFS significantly increased with fetal age.
- Contractures from carbachol, ABMA, and KCl increased between the second and third trimesters but plateaued thereafter.
- Proportional increases in contractions were greater for carbachol and ABMA between early and late gestation compared to EFS and KCl.
Conclusions:
- Fetal sheep bladder development (65-140 days) is characterized by enhanced contractile activation.
- Detrusor muscle development appears to be completed between 65-110 days gestation.
- Functional innervation of the detrusor muscle continues to develop until term (110-140 days gestation).