Joseph N. Corriere

Autonomic innervation of canine urinary bladder cholinergic and adrenergic contributions and interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in bladder function

Abstract On the basis of histochemical and pharmacologic studies, the dog urinary bladder is more appropriately divided between its body and base than between its trigone and detrusor muscles. The bladders base has a rich cholinergic innervation while its body has a modest cholinergic innervation. The smooth muscle cells of the bladder are not individually innervated but do have an abundance of membrane acetylcholinesterase. Cholinergic stimulation produces a contraction throughout the bladder. The adrenergic innervation is also regional. The base is richly innervated, and the body has a scant but definite innervation. Adrenergic stimulation by norepinephrine produces a beta inhibition of the body and an alpha contraction of the base. The functional significance of these direct effects of cholinergic and adrenergic stimulation are discussed in light of recent findings that support an interaction between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems in bladder function.

Effect of levodopa on urinary bladder

Levodopa therapy enhanced the ability of the bladder to store urine in two parkinsonian patients. In vitro canine muscle bath studies with the two major metabolites of levodopa, dopamine and norepinephrine, indicate that the effects of the drug on the peripheral sympathetic nervous system may play a major role in the improvement of urinary symptoms observed with levodopa therapy.

Adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation and blockade of the human bladder base.

The response of muscle strips from the human anterior and posterior bladder base to autonomic stimulation and blockade was studied. The human bladder base, like that of the dog, possesses an abundance of cholinergic and alpha-adrenergic receptor sites. Neuropharmacologically, the musculature of the anterior base is similar to that of the posterior base (trigone plus detrusor musculature).

Adrenergic innervation and stimulation of canine urethra

Sympathetic nervous innervation of the canine urethra was studied using catecholamine histofluorescent straining and the in vitro muscle bath. Morphologically, adrenergic nerves were found terminating on the urethral smooth muscle. Pharmacologically, urethral strips responded like muscle strips from the bladder base to adrenergic stimulation. This evidence supports the concept that the sympathetic nervous system supplies and modulates the function of the smooth muscle stimulation of the rich periurethral vasculature nerve supply.

Effect of muscle length on adrenergic stimulation of canine detrusor

Abstract The effect of muscle length on adrenergic stimulation of canine detrusor was studied in an in vitro muscle bath. The commonly reported response of muscle relaxation with norepinephrine stimulation was seen in muscle strips at or near the resting length. When the muscle strips were stretched, however, an alpha receptor mediated contraction was noted. Length, rather than norepinephrine dose or tension, was the predominant factor determining whether a given strip would respond in an alpha or beta fashion. Sympathetic stimulation may enhance accommodation (beta effect) during bladder filling at low muscle length and potentiate bladder emptying (alpha effect) at increased muscle length.

Sympathetic innervation and chemical sympathectomy of canine bladder.

Chemical sympathectomy of the dog bladder produced by intra-aortic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine has been shown to increase the slope of the pressure/volume curve obtained by rapid fill cystometry. The volume threshold for eliciting a bladder contraction was decreased, whereas the pressure threshold did not change. Peripheral autonomic nervous elements in the bladder wall are described which are proposed as the morphologic basis for these and other such modulating influences.

Effect of long-term chemical sympathectomy on function of canine urinary tract.

Destruction of the adrenergic terminals in the ureter, bladder, and urethra was produced and maintained in 4 dogs for periods up to twelve months by biweekly intraperitoneal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine. The effects on urine transport, storage, and elimination were studied. The results are discussed in the light of current knowledge regarding the sympathetic innervation of these organs and its function.

Increased sodium reabsorption postuninephrectomy Evidence for a humoral factor

Natriuresis occurs in the immediate postnephrectomy period. Yet in the days and weeks that follow, increased Na-K-ATPase (sodium-potassium activated adenosine triphosphate) activity, oxygen consumption and sodium reabsorption occur. Increased sodium reabsorption probably occurs early postuninephrectomy but is obscured by passive hemodynamic and physical-chemical factors that induce natriuresis. These factors were controlled in isolated canine kidneys perfused with normal and twenty-four-hour postuninephrectomized blood. A substance that increases sodium reabsorption and glomerular filtration rate in the kidneys perfused with uninephrectomized blood was demonstrated. The relationship between this and a hormonal substance that induces compensatory renal hypertrophy is unknown. The use of this hormone for treatment of renal failure is discussed.

A successful canine bifid bladder preparation for repeated long-term individual renal function studies

Abstract Full-thickness bifid bladders were created in dogs. A midline episiotomy facilitated repeated hemibladder catheterization. The model has been used repeatedly over a 1-year period and consistent reproducible individual renal function data has been obtained.

Use of sequential 197Hg chlormerodrin delayed scans to evaluate individual renal function

Abstract 197 Hg chlormerodrin delayed scans and conventional split renal clearances were performed on 6 dogs. Left renal artery stenosis was then created in 2 animals and left partial ureteral obstruction in the other 4. The studies were then repeated two and six weeks after surgery. There was a close correlation among the studies after the arterial stenosis, but the ureteral occlusion results were too variable to make the study meaningful or reliable.