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At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Neurologic recovery and improved detrusor contractility using muscle-derived cells in rat model of unilateral pelvic nerve transection.

OBJECTIVES: To create a model of peripheral neuropathy and explore the potential of using muscle-derived cells (MDCs) to facilitate the regeneration of autonomic nerves and improve bladder function. Damage to the peripheral nerves that innervate the bladder from radical pelvic surgery is refractory to the currently available treatments. METHODS: Rat MDCs were isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle using the preplate technique. The unilateral pelvic nerve was cut in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Three experimental groups were included: control (n = 5); unilateral pelvic nerve transected with sham injection (n = 5); and unilateral pelvic nerve transected with injection of MDC (3 x 10(5) cells/site; n = 5). Two weeks after injection, the intravesical pressures were measured during electrical stimulation of the proximal transected preganglionic nerve. The contralateral major pelvic ganglion was excised to ensure that any observed bladder activity was due exclusively to inputs on the unilateral side. The rats were killed, the experimental side major pelvic ganglion was removed, and enkephalin immunoreactivity was counted. RESULTS: After unilateral pelvic nerve transection, no change occurred in bladder weight or capacity or postvoid residual urine volume. The maximal intravesical pressures for the control, sham, and MDC groups, after the contralateral pelvis had been cut, was 31.7 +/- 10.3, 9.6 +/- 4.5, and 15.2 +/- 7.7 cm H2O, respectively (P <0.05). After transecting the preganglionic pelvic nerve, the intensity of pericellular enkephalin immunoreactivity varicosities was significantly decreased in the sham group but unchanged in the MDC group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: MDCs can promote peripheral autonomic nerve regeneration. The morphologic changes correlated with the functional neurologic recovery effect of MDCs. The underlying neurologic recovery mechanisms of MDCs need to be exploited.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy: a surgical technique for preserving the autonomic hypogastric nerve.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, a nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy has been proposed for cervical cancer to reduce morbidity. The aim of this study is (i) to describe the surgical anatomy of the autonomic nervous system, (ii) to describe a new nerve-sparing technique for Piver III radical hysterectomy (RH) using the CUSA, in which greater attention was paid to the autonomic nervous pathway, and (iii) to assess the feasibility and the impact of this nerve-sparing technique on the incidence of early bladder dysfunctions. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with cervical cancer were submitted to nerve-sparing Piver III RH with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Postoperative assessment of bladder function consisted draining the bladder for 3 days using Foley catheterization. Then, we started draining the bladder every 3 h with a no. 10 French catheter to register the onset of spontaneous voiding and to assess the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). RESULTS: The nerve-sparing technique were performed satisfactorily in all cases. The mean operating time was 219 min (range: 150-270). The mean blood loss was 489 ml (range: 200-800). The average period of hospitalization was 10 days (range: 5-16). Two (9%) patients were discharged with self-catheterization, and one of them recovered the ability to void her bladder spontaneously by the time of her first visit to the outpatient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: This nerve-sparing RH technique using the CUSA proved feasible, with promising results in terms of preventing early bladder dysfunction. The average time between surgery and the onset of spontaneous voiding was acceptable. Further prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm our data.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Responses of rat spinal neurones to natural and electrical stimulation of colonic afferents: effect of inflammation.

Single unit electrical activity has been recorded from 107 neurones excited by electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerve in or around lamina X of the L6-S1 spinal cord in anaesthetised rats. Responses to colorectal distension (CRD; 30 s, 5-80 mmHg) and to somatic electrical and mechanical stimulation were characterised. Of 107 neurones excited by pelvic nerve stimulation, 58 (54%) were affected by CRD: 46 neurones were excited (39 with a sustained response and 7 with an on-off response) and 12 neurones were inhibited. The vast majority of the neurones affected by CRD (54/58) had nociceptive somatic receptive fields. Neurones excited by CRD showed graded stimulus response functions in the noxious range (20-80 mmHg), except for two neurones which only encoded stimulus intensity below 20 mmHg. Neurones inhibited by CRD had significantly larger somatic receptive fields, and more superficial recording sites than those excited by CRD. A group of 12 neurones with sustained excitatory responses to CRD were characterised before and 45 min after intracolonic instillation of 1 ml 0.6% acetic acid. Colon inflammation provoked a significant increase in responses to CRD and to pelvic nerve stimulation (n=12), but no significant change in responses to pinch of their somatic receptive field (n=10). We conclude that of these neurones, the population with excitatory sustained responses to CRD are those likely responsible for processing information leading to acute pain sensations from the colon, and also show central sensitisation after colon inflammation, suggesting they play an important role in development of colonic hyperalgesia.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2001

Vaginocervical stimulation-induced release of classical neurotransmitters and nitric oxide in the nucleus of the solitary tract varies as a function of the oestrus cycle.

The effects of vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) on glutamate (GLU), aspartate (ASP), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (NA), arginine (ARG) and nitric oxide (NO) (citrulline) release in the nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS) were measured in anaesthetised female rats as a function of the oestrus cycle. During pro-oestrus/oestrus (P/E), but not during met-oestrus/di-oestrus (M/D), VCS significantly increased concentrations of NA, ASP, GLU, NO (citrulline) and GABA, but not ARG. Basal NA concentrations were also increased in P/E. These effects were prevented by bilateral section of either the vagus nerve or pelvic and hypogastric nerves. Vagotomy also significantly decreased basal NO concentrations in M/D and P/E while pelvic and hypogastric nerve section significantly increased GABA concentrations. Our results therefore confirm that the nTS is a relay structure for the visceral afferents sending information from the uterus into the central nervous system. The ability of VCS to trigger classical transmitter release and NO in the female is influenced by the stage of the oestrous cycle and is routed both via the vagus and pelvic/hypogastric nerves.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Separate urinary bladder and external urethral sphincter neurons in the central nervous system of the rat: simultaneous labeling with two immunohistochemically distinguishable pseudorabies viruses.

This work examines the distribution, in the central nervous system, of virus-labeled neurons from the rat urinary bladder and the external urethral sphincter simultaneously within the same tissue sections. Two immunohistochemically distinct pseudorabies virus strains were injected into male Sprague--Dawley rats (approximately 280 g). One virus was injected into the bladder and the other into the external urethral sphincter. After incubation intervals of 2, 2.5 and 3 days, sections from the spinal cord and brain were treated immunohistochemically to detect cells which were labeled separately by each virus or were labeled by both viruses. The major result of these experiments is that each strain of virus labeled a separate population of neurons and that some neurons were labeled by both strains. In the lumbosacral cord, 3 days post-infection, neurons labeled by virus from the external urethral sphincter were found in Onuf's nucleus, the dorsal gray commissure, and the superficial dorsal horn. Neurons labeled by virus from the urinary bladder were found in the L6--S1 and L1--L2 spinal cord segments within the dorsal gray commissure, the intermediolateral area and the superficial dorsal horn. Double-labeled interneurons were mainly located in the dorsal gray commissure although some were also found in the intermediolateral area and the superficial dorsal horn. In the medulla, external urethral sphincter neurons and bladder neurons and double-labeled neurons were found in the reticular region and the raphe. More rostrally, bladder neurons were located in the pontine micturition center and external urethral sphincter neurons were found in the locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus. A very small number of double-labeled neurons were found in the pontine micturition center and the locus coeruleus or subcoeruleus.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cavernous nerve injury elicits GAP-43 mRNA expression but not regeneration of injured pelvic ganglion neurons.

Recovery of erectile dysfunction after cavernous nerve injury takes a long period. To elucidate this mechanism, unilateral cavernous nerve of male rat was cut, and the expression level of a nerve regeneration marker, the growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) mRNA was evaluated by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. While GAP-43 mRNA expression was transiently increased in the injured neurons of the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) at 7 days after nerve injury, continuous increase of GAP-43 mRNA was observed in the contralateral MPG from 7 days to 6 months after the nerve injury. Histochemical double-labeling studies for either neuronal NOS (nNOS) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the GAP-43 mRNA expression demonstrated that in injured MPG the transient up-regulation of GAP-43 mRNA was mainly seen in nNOS negative and/or TH positive neurons, suggesting non-parasympathetic post-ganglionic neurons, and also demonstrated that in contralateral MPG GAP-43 mRNA positive neurons were gradually increased in nNOS positive but TH negative neurons, suggesting parasympathetic post-ganglionic neurons. When a retrograde tracer Fluorogold (FG) was injected into the penile crus 7 days before histological experiments, FG-positive neurons were, if any, hardly seen in nNOS-positive neurons of the injured MPG for at least 6 months, whereas numerous FG-positive cells were seen in nNOS-positive neurons of the contralateral MPG. These results suggest that post-ganglionic projecting neurons of the intact side, which express increased GAP-43 mRNA, would be most likely to contribute to the recovery of the erectile function after unilateral cavernous nerve injury possibly by a plastic change such as nerve sprouting.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cholinergic axons in the rat prostate and neurons in the pelvic ganglion.

Fluorogold or green fluorescent pseudorabies virus labeled postganglionic neurons in the pelvic ganglion that innervate the prostate gland. Small cholinergic neurons were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with antiserum against vesicular acetylcholine transferase (VAChT). Large, mainly adrenergic neurons, were surrounded by preganglionic cholinergic boutons. In the prostate, M3 type muscarinic receptors were found in the outer muscle layer surrounding the prostatic acini. The antiserum against VAChT marked the inner epithelial layer. Antisera against the vesicular monoamine transporters VMAT1 and VMAT2 demonstrated staining of the inner secretory layer and adrenergic fibers in the outer muscle layer, respectively, of the prostatic acini. These results provide new evidence for the presence of neural elements that have a cholinergic influence over the rat prostate gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of origin of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the rat epididymis.

Distribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive (nNOS-IR) nerve fibers and somata in the rat epididymis and major pelvic ganglia was studied by immunohistochemical methods. In the epididymis, the supply of nNOS-IR fibers was highest in the cauda and became progressively fewer toward the caput. In the cauda and corpus, nNOS-IR fibers were distributed throughout the subepithelial tissues and around the epithelial. The pattern of distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive fibers in the epididymis was similar but the latter was generally more numerous in a given region as compared to that of nNOS-IR fibers. A population of neurons in the major pelvic ganglia were nNOS-IR-, TH- or VIP-IR. Double-labeling studies revealed that few neurons in the major pelvic ganglia contained both nNOS-IR and TH-IR. Whereas nNOS-IR and VIP-IR appeared to co-localize in the same population of the pelvic ganglion cells. Similarly, nNOS-IR fibers in the epididymis were mostly VIP-positive and TH-negative. Unilateral injection of the fluorescent tracer Fluorogold into the junction between the vas deferens and the cauda labeled a population of neurons in the right and left major pelvic ganglia, some of which were also nNOS-IR. A small number of dorsal root ganglion cells contained Fluorogold and very few expressed NOS-IR. It may be concluded that nNOS-IR nerve fibers in the rat epididymis arise mainly from neurons in the major pelvic ganglia the major of which express VIP-IR but not TH-IR. The extensive supply of nNOS-immunoreactive fibers around the epithelium and throughout the subepithelial tissues suggests that NO may be closely associated with smooth muscle contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Canine bladder blood flow and oxygenation: changes induced by filling, contraction and outlet obstruction.

PURPOSE: To study changes in bladder blood flow and oxygenation associated filling, contraction and outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intravesical pressure, bladder flow, bladder wall oxygen tension, iliac artery blood flow and systemic blood pressure were measured simultaneously in anesthetized dogs (N = 18). RESULTS: In the empty bladder, blood flow and oxygen tension in the bladder were greater than at the dome with and without outlet obstruction. Bladder filling caused a significant decrease in bladder wall blood flow and oxygen tension with or without outlet obstruction. Spontaneous bladder contractions resulted in a marked decrease in bladder wall perfusion in the obstructed bladder but not in the unobstructed bladder. Pelvic nerve stimulation produced strong bladder contractions associated with significant drop in bladder wall perfusion and bladder oxygenation in both the open and closed bladder neck models. Little change was noted after stimulation of the hypogastric nerve. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder distention and contraction, especially against a closed bladder neck, induce significant ischemia and hypoxia of the bladder wall. These findings may be important in the pathophysiology of a variety of common clinical problems.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

An electromyographic study on the urethral rhabdosphincter in normal and chronically rhizotomized cats: analysis of electrical potentials evoked by sympathetic nerve stimulation.

To investigate functional aspects of sympathetic nerve influence on the urethral rhabdosphincter, we examined electrical potentials of the male feline rhabdosphincter evoked by hypogastric nerve (HGN) stimulation using electromyography. Hypogastric nerve stimulation (1 Hz) elicited electrical potentials of the rhabdosphincter in both normal and chronically rhizotomized cats. In normal cats, the evoked potentials were not affected by transection of the bilateral pudendal nerves. The amplitudes of the evoked potentials were significantly larger in rhizotomized cats (p < 0.001), while the threshold stimuli and latency periods were not. These evoked potentials were prazosin- and atropine-resistant, but were abolished by hexamethonium and pancuronium in both groups. In normal cats, high frequency stimulation (10 to 20 Hz) of the HGN increased the activity of the rhabdosphincter when the bladder was empty, but not when the bladder was full enough to trigger the vesicourethral relaxation reflex. This excitatory effect of HGN stimulation was blocked by prazosin. These data suggest that the potential of the rhabdosphincter evoked by HGN stimulation (1 Hz) is produced through synapse from sympathetic preganglionic to cholinergic postganglionic neurons, and that, after sacral rhizotomy, cholinergic postganglionic terminals form more effective functional connections to somatically denervated motor end-plates of the rhabdosphincter. The sympathetic nerve is also believed to play a role in modulating urethral afferent activities through action on urethral smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Lumbosacral sympathetic trunk as a compensatory pathway for seminal emission after bilateral hypogastric nerve transections in the dog.

Seminal emission after transection of canine bilateral hypogastric nerves was investigated. Stimulation of severed hypogastric nerves caused full volume seminal emission (greater than four drops) in all six dogs examined. In contrast, stimulation of sympathetic trunks of other six dogs at the level of caudal mesenteric artery caused no emission in three dogs and a limited volume of seminal emission (less than one drop) by pressing the ampulla in the remaining. When hypogastric nerves were transected one month prior to the experiment, however, stimulation of sympathetic trunks in the same manner caused full volume of seminal emission in all six dogs. Distal dissection of sympathetic trunks demonstrated nerve fibers to the seminal tract via the pelvic splanchnic nerves. The results indicate that the seminal tract receives at least two sympathetic pathways; one from hypogastric nerves and the other from lumbosacral sympathetic trunks, and that the latter compensatorily generates seminal emission after hypogastric nerve transection.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Sexual function following radical prostatectomy: influence of preservation of neurovascular bundles.

The influence of preservation or excision of the neurovascular bundles on return of sexual function is analyzed. Between 1982 and 1988, 600 men 34 to 72 years old underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Of the 503 patients who were potent preoperatively and followed for a minimum of 18 months 342 (68%) are potent postoperatively. Three factors were identified that correlated with the return of sexual function: 1) age, 2) clinical and pathological stage, and 3) surgical technique (preservation or excision of the neurovascular bundle). In men less than 50 years old potency was similar in patients who had both neurovascular bundles preserved (90%) and patients who had 1 neurovascular bundle widely excised (91%). With advancing age of more than 50 years sexual function was better in patients in whom both neurovascular bundles were preserved than in patients in whom 1 neurovascular bundle was excised (p less than 0.05). When the relative risk of postoperative impotence was adjusted for age the risk of postoperative impotence was 2-fold greater if there was capsular penetration or seminal vesicle invasion, or if 1 neurovascular bundle was excised (p less than 0.05). These data indicate that the return of sexual function postoperatively in men more than 50 years old is quantitatively related to preservation of autonomic innervation. In these men when it is necessary to excise the neurovascular bundle on 1 side, consideration in the future should be given to approaches that may restore autonomic function through nerve regeneration, for example partial excision of the bundle or cavernous nerve grafts.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

The rat as a model for the study of penile erection.

A model has been developed for the study of penile erection in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Anatomical dissections demonstrate a bilateral ganglion lateral to the prostate called the major pelvic ganglion. This ganglion receives input from the pelvic and hypogastric nerves and innervates the pelvic viscera. A large fiber from the major pelvic ganglion courses along the urethra and innervates the corpus cavernosum, the cavernous nerve. In 40 animals, electrical stimulation of either the cavernous nerve or the pelvic nerve resulted in reproducible repetitive tumescence of the corpora cavernosum. Following ablation of the cavernous nerve, electrical stimulation failed to produce erections. Standard mating behavior tests of mounting, intromission and ejaculation in 38 rats showed that surgical ablation of the cavernous nerve resulted in a decrease in the rate of intromissions and ejaculations compared with sham operated controls. Present models for the study of erection have been limited to the dog, monkey and cat. The rat model presented here offers several advantages over these existing models: 1) the cavernous nerve is easily identified, 2) electrical stimulation is easily accomplished and reproducible, 3) behavioral and neurophysiological studies are possible, and 4) animal purchase, housing, and maintenance costs are low. These advantages make this model a uniquely useful tool in the further study of penile erection.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Effects of five alpha-blockers on the hypogastric nerve stimulation of the canine lower urinary tract.

Electrical stimulation of the hypogastric nerve increased both urethral and bladder pressures of anaesthetized male dogs, without affecting cardiovascular parameters. Intravenous injections of prazosin, phentolamine, thymoxamine, phenoxybenzamine and yohimbine inhibited the urethral pressure increase in a dose-dependent manner, but the increase in bladder pressure was not modified by these alpha-blockers.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1988

Effect of bladder outlet obstruction on micturition reflex pathways in the rat.

The effect of outlet obstruction on neural pathways to the bladder was examined six weeks after urethral ligation in rats. Ligated rats exhibited a seven-fold increase in bladder weight, a six-fold increase in volume, and significant increases (p less than 0.001) in micturition pressure, residual volume and compliance measured under urethane anesthesia. Unanesthetized ligated rats in comparison to control rats voided smaller volumes of urine more frequently (0.7 vs 1.1 voids/hr., p less than 0.001). Electrophysiological examination of vesical afferent and efferent peripheral neural pathways in the pelvic and hypogastric nerves and sympathetic chain did not reveal any differences in thresholds, axonal conduction velocities or ganglionic transmission. A significant difference (p less than 0.05) was noted in the percentage of obstructed rats (100%) exhibiting a short latency spinal reflex as compared to controls (35%). The long latency supraspinal micturition reflex was similar in both groups. These data suggest that obstruction in rats is accompanied by some degree of neural plasticity resulting in a more prominent spinal reflex that could contribute to the development of the unstable bladder following obstruction in humans and unanesthetized animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Dynamic study of nervous control on prostatic contraction and fluid excretion in the dog.

The effect of the section or stimulation of various nerves on prostatic contraction and fluid excretion was investigated dynamically in the dog using an apparatus devised in our laboratory. Prostatic contraction could be classified into two types from the pattern of the contracting wave. One was a prominent tonic contraction, designated as H-type contraction, observed typically after hypogastric nerve stimulation and followed always by prostatic fluid excretion. The other was a weak clonic contraction, designated as P-type contraction, occurring typically after pelvic nerve stimulation and accompanied by no fluid excretion. The periodical contraction of these two types was noticed even at rest. The H-type contraction was associated with fluid excretion with a mean rate of 0.3 ml./hr. The denervation both of the hypogastric and pelvic nerves showed no distinct influence on contraction and excretion in the resting condition. The pudendal nerve was demonstrated to have no significant effect on prostatic contraction and fluid excretion. From these results, it was considered that dynamic fluid excretion followed by prostatic contraction was regulated chiefly by sympathetic fibers from the hypogastric nerve and the physiological role of parasympathetic fibers from the pelvic nerve was something other than fluid excretion.

Animals↗