Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

06:36
A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling
Published on: November 28, 2019
Volume-induced responses in the isolated bladder: evidence for excitatory and inhibitory elements
Steven M Finney1, Laurence H Stewart, James I Gillespie
1Departmentof Urology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. s.mfinney@doctors.org.uk
BJU International
|November 28, 2008
Summary
Bladder activity changes with volume. Increasing volume causes initial bursts, while reducing volume triggers an inhibitory phase, suggesting complex neural regulation.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
Background:
- The bladder exhibits autonomous activity regulated by intravesical pressure.
- Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for bladder function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify changes in bladder autonomous activity in response to intravesical volume alterations.
- To explore the underlying regulatory mechanisms of these volume-induced activity changes.
Main Methods:
- Isolated whole bladders from female guinea pigs were used.
- Intravesical pressure was monitored via urethral cannula.
- Drugs were applied to the ablumenal bladder surface in a heated physiological solution.
Main Results:
- Increased intravesical volume led to an initial burst of activity followed by a steady state.
- Reduced intravesical volume induced a quiescent 'inhibitory phase'.
- Contraction frequency increased with volume and arecaidine dose; inhibitory phase length depended on volume change duration and magnitude.
Conclusions:
- Bladder activity regulation involves complex excitatory and inhibitory inputs.
- Volume-induced activity changes suggest rapidly adapting mechanisms and a distinct inhibitory phase.
- Cholinergic input appears to regulate the inhibitory phase, though precise mechanisms require further investigation.
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