The Manx cat as an animal model for neurogenic vesical dysfunction associated with myelodysplasia: a preliminary...

The Manx cat breeds consistently for spinal dysraphism (myelodysplasia) and has spinal cord neuropathologic abnormalities similar to those of myelodysplastic humans. The results of detailed urodynamic and histochemical evaluation of 1 Manx kitten and limited anatomic study of another Manx kitten are described. Urodynamic evaluation revealed significant abnormalities of vesicourethral function: detrusor areflexia, autonomous pressure response to bladder filling, a dysfunctional proximal urethra and poor quality pelvic floor electromyographic activity. Of particular interest, catecholaminergic histochemical studies of the bladder and urethra demonstrated a complete absence of adrenergic fibers, even in the trigone area where they are reported to be abundant. This finding correlated with the urodynamic dysfunction of the proximal urethra. Cholinergic histochemical studies were normal. Examination of the spinal cord revealed moderate hydromyelia throughout the entire length of the cord. The similarities of normal vesicourethral function in man and the cat and our preliminary findings of vesicourethral dysfunction in the Manx cat suggest that this animal may be a particularly valuable model for further research.