High‐frequency micro‐ultrasound: A novel method to assess external urethral sphincter function in rats following simulated birth injury. Issue 3 (16th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hakim, Lukman; Endo, Masayuki; Feola, Andrew; Soebadi, Doddy M.; Deprest, Jan; De Ridder, Dirk; Albersen, Maarten; Van der Aa, Frank
• Is Part Of: Neurourology and urodynamics. Volume 34:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 264
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2014-01-16
• Subjects: Urinary organs -- Periodicals; Urodynamics -- Periodicals; Urology -- Periodicals; 616.6
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.22555
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0733-2467

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="nau22555-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>We evaluated external urethral sphincter (EUS) function using high‐frequency micro‐ultrasound (US) in rats that were either uninjured (Control, C) or underwent vaginal distension (VD) as a substitute for vaginal birth injury induced stress urinary incontinence (SUI).</p> </sec> <sec id="nau22555-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Thirteen female nulliparous Sprague–Dawley rats of 12 weeks were divided into two groups, either C (n = 6) or VD (n = 7). Vaginal balloon distension was performed under pentobarbital anesthesia for 4 hours. Five days after the injury, all animals underwent US assessment of the urethra during high‐rate bladder filling and urine leakage/voiding. Urinary leakage, the presence, absence, and pattern of EUS bursting during the voiding phase were registered, and pre‐determined parameters of intercontraction interval (ICI), length of contraction (LOC), and rate of contraction (ROC) were registered.</p> </sec> <sec id="nau22555-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Our ultrasound findings consistently showed the presence of rhythmic EUS bursting in all of the C rats (6/6), which were absent in all VD rats (0/7). The mean of ROC, ICI, and LOC in C group were 3.02 ± 0.12 contractions/sec, 471.43 ± 17.9 msec, and 103.41 ± 3.28 msec, respectively.</p> </sec> <sec id="nau22555-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Pre‐determined parameters of LOC, ICI, and ROC during US provide objective and measurable data on EUS function. US showed the total disappearance of EUS bursting in the VD group as compared to the C group. These results indicate that ultrasound testing may become a valuable non‐invasive tool in future translational studies to investigate SUI/urethral function in rat models. <italic>Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:264–269, 2015</italic>. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>