Models of Urogenital Dysfunction: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Bladder outlet obstruction can be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A reduction in prostatic smooth muscle tone provides a means of improving the obstructive symptoms associated with BPH. This unit presents methods for studying prostatic pressure in both the anesthetized and conscious dog. In both models, the primary determinant is the measurement of experimentally induced changes in intra‐urethral prostatic pressure. The protocols allow measurement of the effects of compounds on agonist‐ or nerve‐stimulated prostatic contraction in vivo. Th conscious dog model has two potential advantages over the anesthetized preparation: it can be used for oral dosing of test compounds and it allows measurement of the effects of test compounds on postural hemodynamics under conditions where reflexes are not compromised by anesthesia. In all the protocols in this unit, measurement of Bladder outlet obstruction can be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)