Cystometrical evaluation of bladder instability in rats with infravesical outflow obstruction

Cystometries were performed in normal rats and in rats with bladder hypertrophy due to infravesical outflow obstruction. Investigations were performed in the presence and absence of anesthesia. pentobarbital anesthesia depressed spontaneous contractile activity in the bladder and the micturition reflex, thereby making measurements of other variables, such as bladder capacity and residual volume, impossible. In conscious animals infravesical outflow obstruction led to development of increased bladder capacity, marked residual volume, and unstable detrusor contractions. The model seems to be well suited for further evaluation of the mechanisms involved in the development of detrusor instability and the responses to pharmacological treatment.