Chronic partial urethral obstruction in female rats: description of an experimental model and initial results.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an experimental model of infravesical urinary obstruction in female rats.


METHODS
After median caudal laparotomy, the urethra of 14 female rats was delicately separated from the vagina and loosely wrapped with cellophane tape measuring 0.4 x 1.0 cm. The animals were evaluated 4 (n=7) and 8 (n=7) weeks later. Five additional control animals were only subjected to separation of the urethra and vagina and monitored for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
After four weeks, three rats presented vesical dilation associated with discrete ureteral ectasis in 2 animals, with the third presenting discrete hydronephrosis in one kidney. After eight weeks, five rats (71.4%) presented vesical distension with bilateral ureterohydronephrosis. No significant changes (p>0.05) in serum urea or creatinine occurred in any group compared to preoperative values.


CONCLUSIONS
We present here an inexpensive and simple method for the slow induction of urethral obstruction in adult female rats, with the development of progressive vesical hypertrophy and ureterohydronephrosis, which may be used as an experimental model for the study of different aspects of obstructive nephropathy.
Department of Surgery and Anatomy, FMRP, USP, Ribeirao Preto-SP, Brazil.stuccijr@yahoo.com.br
Silvio
S
Tucci
Carlos Augusto Ferreira
CA
Molina
Marcelo Ferreira
MF
Cassini
Murilo Ferreira de
MF
Andrade
Gilson José de
GJ
Lima
Antonio Carlos Pereira
AC
Martins
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology