[The urodynamic effects of an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist on the bladder and urethra of female dogs].
It has been known that alpha 1-adrenoceptors play an important role in urethral contraction. The incompetence of the urethral contraction is a cause of stress incontinence. We studied the urodynamic effects of a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist (midodrine hydrochloride) on the bladder and urethra of female dogs. Under anesthesia with intravenous chloralose, four doses (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) of midodrine were administered intravenously and urodynamic studies including cystometry, urethral pressure profilometry and electromyography (EMG) of the external urethral sphincter were performed. The administration of midodrine induced a significant increase of the maximum closing pressure in the proximal portion of the urethra (p less than 0.05 at 0.03 mg/kg and p less than 0.01 at 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg). There were no significant changes in the functional profile length, the closing pressure at the external sphincters, the maximum bladder pressure, bladder capacity and bladder compliance. The administration of 0.3 mg/kg or more of midodrine produced a significant increase in the mean arterial blood pressure. After midodrine administration, transient increases in the external sphincter EMG activities were recognized. The activities showed the synergistic pattern during the bladder contractions. In conclusion, lower dose administration of a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist (midodrine) specifically produced an increase of the closing pressure in the proximal portion of the urethra without affecting blood pressure. These results suggest that midodrine is useful for the treatment of stress incontinence in humans.
Takahashi
S
S
Department of Urology, Tokyo University School of Medicine.
Moriyama
N
N
Homma
Y
Y
Higashihara
E
E
Aso
Y
Y
Yamazaki
R
R
Okuyama
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008365:Manometry; D008879:Midodrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014521:Urethra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*
D008879:Midodrine