PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of neurogenic voiding dysfunction following cerebral infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded using 4-0 monofilament nylon thread in male S-D rats. Cystometric examination was performed in unanesthetized and urethane-anesthetized rats through a catheter chronically implanted in the dome of the bladder. RESULTS: Bladder capacity of unanesthetized or urethane anesthetized rats was significantly reduced just after occlusion of the left MCA; 2 weeks after the occlusion, the capacity was less than half that in sham-operated rats. Intravenous administration of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 to the unanesthetized sham-operated rats led to a marked dose-dependent decrease in bladder capacity. Its administration to unanesthetized rats with cerebral infarction resulted in a slight decrease in bladder capacity. In the urethane-anesthetized state, the bladder capacity of the rats with cerebral infarction was significantly increased by MK-801, 0.1 mg./kg., without inhibiting the contraction pressure or increasing the amount of residual urine. A high dose (1 mg./kg.) of MK-801 was required to increase the bladder capacity of sham-operated rats. This led to an inhibition of contraction pressure and an increase in residual urine. CONCLUSION: Results in urethane anesthetized rats indicate that NMDA glutamatergic transmission is important in the overactivity of the bladder following a cerebral infarction. This model is useful in studying the neurogenic voiding dysfunction observed in patients with cerebrovascular disease.
PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of neurogenic voiding dysfunction following cerebral infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded using 4-0 monofilament nylon thread in male S-D rats. Cystometric examination was performed in unanesthetized and urethane-anesthetized rats through a catheter chronically implanted in the dome of the bladder. RESULTS: Bladder capacity of unanesthetized or urethane anesthetized rats was significantly reduced just after occlusion of the left MCA; 2 weeks after the occlusion, the capacity was less than half that in sham-operated rats. Intravenous administration of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 to the unanesthetized sham-operated rats led to a marked dose-dependent decrease in bladder capacity. Its administration to unanesthetized rats with cerebral infarction resulted in a slight decrease in bladder capacity. In the urethane-anesthetized state, the bladder capacity of the rats with cerebral infarction was significantly increased by MK-801, 0.1 mg./kg., without inhibiting the contraction pressure or increasing the amount of residual urine. A high dose (1 mg./kg.) of MK-801 was required to increase the bladder capacity of sham-operated rats. This led to an inhibition of contraction pressure and an increase in residual urine. CONCLUSION: Results in urethane anesthetized rats indicate that NMDA glutamatergic transmission is important in the overactivity of the bladder following a cerebral infarction. This model is useful in studying the neurogenic voiding dysfunction observed in patients with cerebrovascular disease.