Poststimulation inhibition of the micturition reflex induced by tibial nerve stimulation in rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) on the micturition reflex. Experiments were conducted in 24 rats under urethane anesthesia. A catheter was inserted into the bladder via the bladder dome for saline infusion. A cuff electrode was placed around right tibial nerve for stimulation. TNS (5 Hz, 0.2 msec pulse width) at 2–4 times the threshold (T) intensity for inducing a toe movement was applied either during slow (0.08 mL/min) infusion of the bladder or for 30 min with an empty bladder. TNS had no effect on the micturition reflex when it was applied during slow bladder infusion. However, the 30‐min TNS applied with an empty bladder induced poststimulation inhibition and significantly (P < 0.05) increased the bladder capacity to about 140% of prestimulation level in a 50‐min period following the termination of stimulation. The bladder compliance was also significantly (P < 0.05) increased after the 30‐min TNS. These results suggest that different mechanisms might exist in acute‐ and post‐TNS inhibition of micturition reflex. The animal model developed in this study will be very useful for further investigations of the neurotransmitter mechanisms underlying tibial neuromodulation of bladder function.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of somatic afferent nerves in the foot relieved symptoms related to postoperative bladder spasms

“…Meanwhile, the stimulation was only applied 1 time/day but the effects seem sustained during the whole day, indicating that the stimulation must have induced post-stimulation effects. The post-stimulation inhibitory effects on bladder spasms are in agreement with previous studies showing that a post-stimulation inhibition of the micturition reflex can be induced by stimulation of the foot or tibial nerve in rats [15] and cat [16, 17]. In both treatment and control groups, the VAS score, spasm frequency, and total score of bladder spasm symptoms decreased from day 1 to day 3 (Table 3), which might be due to the natural healing process postoperatively.…”

Frequency‐dependent inhibition of bladder function by saphenous nerve stimulation in anesthetized rats

“…We therefore considered the hypothesis that SAFN stimulation could elicit a bladder‐inhibitory reflex. Non‐survival experiments were conducted in anesthetized rats, where changes in both bladder contraction rate (BCR) and bladder capacity were measured in response to electrical pulses applied to the SAFN. Preliminary results were presented in abstract form …”

Effects of pulsed-radiofrequency neuromodulation on the rat with overactive bladder

“…). Similarly, studies have also indicated that tibial nerve stimulation for a short period of 30 min in rats induces a sustained poststimulation effect for approximately 50 min, thus inhibiting detrusor overactivity …”