We studied micturitional reflexes in 46 unanesthetized adult male cats spinalized at C5-C6 17 to 125 days previously and in eight intact central nervous system chloralosed cats that were used as controls. Urethral pressure profiles, cystosphincterograms with the urethrovesical junction opened and closed, and mechanograms of detrusor and circular and longitudinal urethral muscles were performed. The effect of vesical, urethral, pelvic, or pudendal anesthesia and vesical and urethral mechanical stimulation were studied. Our results suggest that spinalization produces two major types of neurourologic disorders: (1) weakness of detrusor contractor reflexes (vesicovesical and urethrovesical contraction reflexes) and (2) exaggeration of urethral contractor reflexes (urethrourethral contraction reflex, guarding reflex). Secondarily the weakness of detrusor contractions diminishes the efficiency of the urethral reflex relaxation needed for voiding (vesicourethral relaxation reflex). Because of these abnormalities, two main syndromes appear: (1) underactive detrusor function and (2) detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. Isolated peripheral manipulations of the bladder or urethra do not improve micturition: (1) increase in detrusor contraction strength induces detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, and (2) relaxation of the external sphincter facilitates voiding, but urinary retention persists. It is proposed that spinalization produces a central micturitional dysreflexia responsible for the peripheral dysfunction, and treatment must be oriented toward the central dysreflexia rather than the peripheral dysfunction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.