title: Neuroanatomic and behavioral correlates of urinary dysfunction induced by vaginal distension in rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to use a model of simulated human childbirth in rats to determine the damage to genitourinary structures and behavioral signs of urinary dysfunction induced by vaginal distension (VD) in female rats. In experiment 1, the length of the genitourinary tract and the nerves associated with it were measured immediately after simulated human delivery induced by VD or sham (SH) procedures. Electroneurograms of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris (DNC) were also recorded. In experiment 2, histological characteristics of the bladder and major pelvic ganglion of VD and SH rats were evaluated. In experiment 3, urinary parameters were determined in conscious animals during 6 h of dark and 6 h of light before and 3 days after VD or SH procedures. VD significantly increased distal vagina width (P < 0.001) and the length of the motor branch of the sacral plexus (P < 0.05), DNC (P < 0.05), and vesical nerves (P < 0.01) and decreased DNC frequency and amplitude of firing. VD occluded the pelvic urethra, inducing urinary retention, hematomas in the bladder, and thinness of the epithelial (P < 0.05) and detrusor (P < 0.01) layers of the bladder. Major pelvic ganglion parameters were not modified after VD. Rats dripped urine in unusual places to void, without the stereotyped behavior of micturition after VD. The neuroanatomic injuries after VD occur alongside behavioral signs of urinary incontinence as determined by a new behavioral tool for assessing micturition in conscious animals.
authors.affiliation: Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México;
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México;
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México;
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morán
authors.affiliation: Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México;
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xelhuantzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; and Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Damaser
authors.affiliation: Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México; Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México; cruzgomezy@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D009409:Nerve Crush / Q000009:adverse effects; D036801:Parturition; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014554:Urination
keywords: dorsal nerve of the clitoris; external urethral sphincter; major pelvic ganglion; micturition