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Sympathetic nervous system effects on feline bladder wall compliance throughout continence
M H Khadra1, P M Satchell, C W Vaughan
1Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica
|September 1, 1995
Summary
The sympathetic nervous system relaxes the bladder wall, enhancing urine storage capacity. This effect, observed during bladder filling, offers potential therapeutic strategies for storage disorders.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
Background:
- The urinary bladder requires high compliance for effective urine storage.
- The role of the sympathetic nervous system in modulating bladder compliance is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific bladder volumes at which the sympathetic nervous system influences bladder wall compliance.
- To elucidate the sympatho-inhibitory mechanisms affecting bladder storage.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on supine, anesthetized cats with artificially increased bladder filling rates.
- Bladder pressure and pelvic nerve afferent activity were recorded at five distinct stages of the continence cycle.
- Sympathetic activity was modulated using trimethaphan to induce partial ganglion blockade.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in bladder pressure and afferent nerve activity was observed upon transient sympathetic blockade.
- This indicates a prevailing net sympatho-inhibitory effect promoting bladder wall relaxation.
- This relaxation effect was consistently observed from prodromal contractions through to the onset of micturition.
Conclusions:
- The sympathetic nervous system exerts a net inhibitory effect on the bladder wall, promoting relaxation and storage.
- This sympatho-inhibitory mechanism is active over a significant portion of the bladder filling cycle.
- Understanding this pathway presents a potential therapeutic avenue for managing bladder storage dysfunctions.