External urethral sphincter activity in diabetic rats.
Guiming Liu1, Yi-Hao Lin, Yasuhiro Yamada
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Neurourology and Urodynamics
|March 21, 2008
Summary
Diabetes causes progressive bladder and external urethral sphincter (EUS) dysfunction in rats. These changes, including EUS atrophy, may explain long-term bladder problems in diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with significant systemic effects.
- Diabetic complications can impact various organ systems, including the lower urinary tract.
- Understanding the temporal progression of bladder and sphincter dysfunction in diabetes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-dependent effects of diabetes on bladder function and external urethral sphincter (EUS) activity in a rat model.
- To correlate functional changes with anatomical alterations in the EUS over time.
Main Methods:
- Streptozotocin-induced diabetic and control female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied at 6 and 20 weeks post-induction.
- Cystometrograms (CMGs) assessed bladder capacity and voiding dynamics.
- Electromyograms (EMG) of the EUS evaluated sphincter activity during voiding.
- Morphological examination of urethral tissues provided anatomical data.
Main Results:
- Diabetes led to reduced body weight and increased bladder weight.
- CMG revealed increased threshold volume, contraction duration, high-frequency oscillations, and residual volume in diabetic rats.
- EUS-EMG showed altered bursting and silent periods, with increased active periods at 6 weeks.
- Morphometric analysis indicated EUS atrophy by 20 weeks of diabetes, but not at 6 weeks.
- Peak bladder contraction amplitude increased at 6 weeks but not 20 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes induces both functional and anatomical abnormalities in the external urethral sphincter (EUS).
- These EUS changes are time-dependent and may contribute to the development of bladder dysfunction in diabetic individuals.
- The findings highlight the progressive nature of diabetic uropathy.
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