Altered defaecatory behaviour and faecal incontinence in a video‐tracked animal model of pudendal neuropathy. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devane, L. A.; Lucking, E.; Evers, J.; Buffini, M.; Scott, S. M.; Knowles, C. H.; O'Connell, P. R.; Jones, J. F. X.
• Is Part Of: Colorectal disease. Volume 19:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: O162
• Page End: O167
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Faecal incontinence -- animal model; Colon (Anatomy) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Rectum -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.34
• DOI: 10.1111/codi.13664
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-8910

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: The aim was to develop a behavioural animal model of faecal continence and assess the effect of retro‐uterine balloon inflation (RBI) injury. RBI in the rat causes pudendal neuropathy, a risk factor for obstetric related faecal incontinence in humans. Method: Video‐tracking of healthy rats ( n = 12) in a cage containing a latrine box was used to monitor their defaecatory behaviour index (DBI) over 2 weeks. The DBI (range 0–1) was devised by dividing the defaecation rate (pellets per hour) outside the latrine by that of the whole cage. A score of 0 indicates all pellets were deposited in the latrine. Subsequently, the effects of RBI ( n = 19), sham surgery ( n = 4) and colostomy ( n = 2) were determined by monitoring the DBI for 2 weeks preoperatively and 3 weeks postoperatively. Results: The DBI for healthy rats was 0.1 ± 0.03 with no significant change over 2 weeks ( P = 0.71). In the RBI group, 13 of 19 rats (68%) showed no significant change in DBI postoperatively (0.08 ± −0.05 vs 0.11 ± −0.07) while in six rats the DBI increased from 0.16 ± −0.09 to 0.46 ± 0.23. The negative control, sham surgery, did not significantly affect the DBI (0.09 ± 0.06 vs 0.08 ± 0.04, P = 0.14). The positive control, colostomy, increased the DBI from 0.26 ± 0.03 to 0.86 ± 0.08. Conclusions: This is the first study showing a quantifiable change in defaecatory behaviour following injury in an animal model. This model of pudendal neuropathy affects continence in 32% of rats and provides a basis for research on interventions for incontinence.