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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Preparation of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Electrodes for Chronic Implantation in Rats
Published on: July 14, 2020
Chronic pudendal neuromodulation using an implantable microstimulator improves voiding function in diabetic rats
Tsung-Hsun Hsieh1, Yin-Tsong Lin, Shih-Ching Chen
1Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine and Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chronic pudendal neuromodulation improved bladder voiding function in diabetic rats. This study supports developing neural prosthetics for urinary retention in diabetes patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Urology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus can cause urinary retention by affecting bladder function.
- Pudendal nerve dysfunction is implicated in diabetic bladder issues.
- Current treatments for diabetic urinary retention have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of chronic electrical stimulation (ES) of the pudendal nerve for improving voiding function in diabetic rats.
- To assess the impact of pudendal neuromodulation on bladder pressure, sphincter activity, and urine flow.
- To evaluate the effects of neuromodulation on pudendal nerve morphology.
Main Methods:
- A custom implantable microstimulation system was used for chronic pudendal neuromodulation in diabetic and control rats.
- Voiding function was assessed by measuring intravesical pressure, external urethral sphincter electromyograms (EUS-EMGs), and urine flow rate (UFR).
- Pudendal nerve axon morphology was examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
Main Results:
- Chronic pudendal neuromodulation demonstrated feasibility in improving voiding function in diabetic rats.
- Electrical stimulation positively influenced intravesical pressure, EUS-EMGs, and UFR.
- No significant adverse morphological changes in pudendal axons were observed.
Conclusions:
- Chronic pudendal neuromodulation is a feasible approach to enhance voiding function in diabetic urinary retention.
- These findings support the potential development of neural prosthetics for restoring bladder function.
- Pudendal neuromodulation offers a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic bladder dysfunction.
