Neural mechanisms of impaired micturition reflex in rats with acute partial bladder outlet obstruction

To determine the contribution of neural elements to micturition, we evaluated, in intact rats, the cystometrogram, pelvic afferent nervous activity, pelvic efferent nervous activity and external urethral sphincter-electromyogram activity in the normal and acute partial bladder outlet obstruction states. In the normal state, in response to saline filling, mechanoreceptor-dependent pelvic afferent nervous activity gradually activated and finally triggered a voiding reflex, including four phases of detrusor contractions. Phase 1 was characterized by an initial rising intravesical pressure, Phase 2 was characterized by a series of high-frequency oscillations in intravesical pressure, Phase 3 contraction was characterized by a rebound intravesical pressure and Phase 4 contraction was characterized by a rapid fall in intravesical pressure. In the acute partial bladder outlet obstruction state, Phase 1 contraction rose and high-frequency oscillations fell in Phase 2. This voiding dysfunction is ascribed to the bursting extraurethral sphincter activity being converted to tonic extraurethral sphincter activity. In summary, the suppressed high-frequency oscillations in Phase 2 of the detrusor muscle contraction could be detrimental to efficient voidings in the acute partial bladder outlet obstructed rat.