Uroflow in murine urethritis.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a noninvasive method to measure urinary flow rate in the mouse. This could be useful for the study of bladder outlet obstruction, as well as processes affecting detrusor function in the awake animal. Genetically engineered mice can improve our understanding of a variety of human bladder diseases.


METHODS
A metabolic cage without a fecal separation screen was placed above a precision balance that reported the mass of the excreta pan every 100 ms. A computational algorithm identified voids suitable for assessment of uroflow from other excretory events. These algorithms were verified by comparison with a series of images obtained automatically before and during the excretory events. Intraurethral acetic acid was used to induce urethritis and to verify the sensitivity of the measurement technique.


RESULTS
Automatic categorization and characterization of uroflow was successful. Brief exposures of the urethra of the female C57BL6/J mouse to 2% acetic acid decreased uroflow and increased the void duration without a change in the voided volume.


CONCLUSIONS
This method will enable studies of urologic function in mice of differing age, sex, strain, and genetic constitution. Murine urethritis can be differentiated from cystitis, known to be associated with a decrease in voided volume. The observed changes were consistent with urethral obstruction induced by local swelling and inflammation.
Department of Urology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642-8668, USA.
Yuk-Yuen Max
YY
Leung
Edward M
EM
Schwarz
Christopher R
CR
Silvers
Edward M
EM
Messing
Ronald W
RW
Wood
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000662:veterinary*; D004231:Diuresis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics; D014741:Video Recording
D019342:Acetic Acid