Electromotive Drug Administration in the Ureter in an In Vivo Animal Model: Initial Report

Electromotive drug administration (EMDA) delivers a drug deeply into targeted tissues, such as the bladder. EMDA has never been applied to the ureter. In four in vivo porcine ureters, a unique EMDA catheter containing a silver conducting wire was advanced for the infusion of methylene blue. In two ureters, a pulsed current was delivered through an EMDA machine, whereas the other two ureters served as a control. After 20 minutes of infusion, the ureters were harvested. In the EMDA ureter, there was diffuse staining of the urothelium; penetration of methylene blue occurred in the lamina propria and muscularis propria. In the control ureter, there was only patchy staining of the urothelium. In this first report of ureteral EMDA, a charged molecule penetrated beyond the urothelium into the lamina propria and muscularis propria of the porcine ureter.