title: Real-Time Monitoring of Blood Flow and Intravesical Pressure in the Rat Bladder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because there is little information available about blood flow in the voiding cycle of the bladder, we performed a study in which we simultaneously monitored blood flow and intravesical pressure during the micturition cycle in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approximately 300 g male Wistar rats were used in this study. Cystometric studies were performed according to our previous report, and simultaneously blood flow was monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the micturition reflex occurred, a significant increase in bladder blood flow was observed, and this increased blood flow continued during the micturition reflex. Under the maximum contraction pressure, blood flow rapidly decreased (within 10% compared to the max level). This low level of blood flow continued for more than half a minute.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicated that the blood flow in the bladder was dynamically changed during voiding. This technique may represent a strong tool to investigate bladder function under drug administrations and/or pathophysiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohmasa
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsounapi
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
keywords: bladder blood flow; intravesical pressure; rat