title: Models for sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia and stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss (1) animal models for investigating bladder afferent pathways from the spinal cord to the brain and (2) animal models of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with a special emphasis on functional and histopathological characteristics of each model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review of spinal mechanisms of bladder afferent pathways and animal models of SUI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrophysiological studies in the rat using pelvic nerve stimulation and recording of evoked potentials in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) prove to be a valuable tool to examine spinal mechanisms of bladder afferent pathways. Animal models of SUI in the rat include vaginal distention as simulated birth trauma, pudendal nerve crush or transection, urethral sphincter injury by electrocauterization, transabdominal urethrolysis, periurethral botulinum-A toxin injection, and pubo-urethral ligament transection. Functional and histopathological changes in the continence mechanism after injury are different between models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using animal models for sensory neurons, intrathecal and intravenous administration of certain drugs can be tested whether they affect the bladder afferent pathways from the spinal cord to the PAG. Animal models of SUI can serve as a tool to develop new pharmacologic therapies or periurethral injection therapies using stem cell implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal and Urologic Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. kaki@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakizaki
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007001:Hypogastric Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D051381:Rats; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*