Fig 1.
In-vivo experimental setup and filling cystometrograms.
(A) In-vivo experimental setup to measure pressures and to perform hypogastric nerve stimulation and recording in intra-abdominal region. (B) Example of filling cystometrogram pressures curves. Pressure recordings were performed during bladder filling with a saline infusion at a rate of 30 mL/min. Pves: Intravesical pressure; Pureth: Urethral pressure; Pabd: Abdomen pressure; Panal sphincter: Anal sphincter pressure; Pdet: Detrusor pressure. ENG: Electroneurogram.
Fig 2.
(A) Final version of electrode. (B) Side view of electrode: two platinum contacts are (25μm thick) separated by 1.5mm; total length: 5.0 mm; inner diameter: 0.8–1.2 mm. (C) Electrode wrapped around a hypogastric nerve.
Fig 3.
Maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) obtained during hypogastric nerve stimulation.
(A) Under isoflurane and propofol anesthesia; and (B) under only isoflurane anesthesia. Groups: I) intact bladder innervation (n = 21); II) bilateral transection of all roots caudal to L7 (n = 3); III) bilateral transection of L7 dorsal roots or both L6 & L7 dorsal roots and all roots caudal to L7 (n = 9) and IV) bilateral transection of all spinal roots below L5 (n = 3). Symbol representation: (A) Each symbol represents individual animal under different anesthesia; (B) Group I: blue circles; Group II: red squares; Group III: green triangles; Group IV: purple hexagons. Abbreviations: L–Lumbar.
Fig 4.
Maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) obtained during spinal cord/roots stimulation.
A) Maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) obtained during lumbosacral (L1-S3) spinal segment/root stimulation (n = 6). B) MDP obtained during unilateral L2 ventral root stimulation under isoflurane anesthesia (n = 3). Groups: I) intact bladder innervation; II) bilateral transection of L6 & L7 dorsal roots and all roots caudal to L7, and intact hypogastric nerves; III) bilateral transection of all spinal roots below L5 and bilateral transection of hypogastric nerve. *p = 0.05 (group I & III), #p = 0.05 (group II & III). Abbreviations: L–Lumbar; S- Sacral.
Fig 5.
Hypogastric nerve recording during bladder filling in intact bladders.
A) First fill (n = 10 animals); B) second fill (n = 6 animals); C) during bladder filling after elimination of efferent inputs (n = 5 animals). Panels A-C: data obtained for individual animals. Panels D-E: median & interquartile range (25%, 75%) was calculated.
Fig 6.
Hypogastric nerve recording in acutely decentralized (L6-L7 dorsal roots and all roots caudal to L7) bladders.
A) 1st fill (n = 5 animals); B) 2nd fill after elimination of efferent inputs (n = 4 animals). Panels A-B: data obtained for individual animals. Panels C-D: median & interquartile range (25%, 75%) was calculated (*p = 0.03).