The nonstop transvesical cystometrogram in urethane-anesthetized rats: a simple procedure for quantitative studies on the various phases of urinary bladder voiding cycle.

A new cystometric procedure that involves a nonstop transvesical (through a needle inserted into the bladder dome) infusion of saline in urethane-anesthetized rats is described. This permits the obtainment of a series of repetitive voiding cycles in both male and female rats. Recording at high-chart speed permits quantitative measurements of the various phases of the voiding cycle. Micturition was almost invariably associated with appearance, during a sustained increase of intravesical pressure, of a series of high-frequency oscillations, which were paralleled by a stream-like emission of the infused fluid. Micturition was not observed after topical tetrodotoxin, after bilateral transection of pelvic nerves, or in acute spinal rats. Intravenous hexamethonium produced a dose-related impairment of the voiding cycle, and, at high doses, suppressed micturition, and overflow incontinence ensued. The experimental procedure described herein appears to be suitable for physiopharmacological studies dealing with regulation of voiding cycle.