Effect of urethral stimulation on vesical contractile activity.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the hypothesis that urethral stimulation effects vesical contraction.


METHODS
Vesical pressure response to urethral balloon distension with normal saline in increments of 1 mL was recorded in 26 healthy volunteers (17 men, 9 women; mean age, 36.9 +/- 9.7 SD years) before and after individual anesthetization of the urinary bladder and urethra. Urethral distension was effected by a 6F balloon-ended catheter introduced per urethra. Vesical pressure was measured by means of a microtip catheter.


RESULTS
Vesical pressure recorded gradual increase on increase of urethral balloon distension. Bladder response was maintained as long as urethral distension was continuous. The response showed no significant difference when we distended different parts of the male or female urethrae. Urethral distension after individual vesical and urethral anesthetization effected no change in the vesical pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Urethral distension produced a vesical pressure increase that presumably denotes vesical contraction. Vesical contraction on urethral stimulation by distension is suggested to be mediated through a "urethrovesical stimulating reflex" that seems to facilitate vesical contraction. Provided further studies to be performed in this respect, the reflex may prove to be of diagnostic significance in micturition disorders.
Shafik
Ahmed
A
Department of Surgery and Experimental Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. shafik@ahmedshafik.com
Shafik
Ismail A
IA
El Sibai
Olfat
O
Shafik
Ali A
AA
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D014521:Urethra / Q000502:physiology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology