Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
An Immature Murine Model of Reversible Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
Published on: April 4, 2025
Chronic partial urethral obstruction in female rats: description of an experimental model and initial results
Silvio Tucci1, Carlos Augusto Ferreira Molina, Marcelo Ferreira Cassini
1Department of Surgery and Anatomy, FMRP, USP, Ribeirao Preto-SP, Brazil.stuccijr@yahoo.com.br
Purpose:
To develop an experimental model of infravesical urinary obstruction in female rats.
Methods:
After median caudal laparotomy, the urethra of 14 female rats was delicately separated from the vagina and loosely wrapped with cellophane tape measuring 0.4 x 1.0 cm. The animals were evaluated 4 (n=7) and 8 (n=7) weeks later. Five additional control animals were only subjected to separation of the urethra and vagina and monitored for 12 weeks.
Results:
After four weeks, three rats presented vesical dilation associated with discrete ureteral ectasis in 2 animals, with the third presenting discrete hydronephrosis in one kidney. After eight weeks, five rats (71.4%) presented vesical distension with bilateral ureterohydronephrosis. No significant changes (p>0.05) in serum urea or creatinine occurred in any group compared to preoperative values.
Conclusion:
We present here an inexpensive and simple method for the slow induction of urethral obstruction in adult female rats, with the development of progressive vesical hypertrophy and ureterohydronephrosis, which may be used as an experimental model for the study of different aspects of obstructive nephropathy.
