Guinea pig as an animal model for the study of urinary bladder function in the normal and obstructed state

The guinea pig has become an excellent model for the study of mechanical and electrical mechanisms regulating bladder function in the normal and obstructed state. Much preliminary work has been done on the in vitro behavior of the detrusor smooth muscle. The tissue has permitted electrophysiological studies by sucrose gap, microelectrode, and patch clamp technique. Excellent urodynamic studies can be performed under anesthesia. A recent model of bladder obstruction has resulted in a source of tissue which is suitable for electrophysiological analysis of the muscle. Low-cost and simple animal care requirements permit large-scale studies correlating urodynamic, structural, biochemical, contractile, and electrophysiological changes in response to obstruction.