Impairment of accessory nerves around major pelvic ganglion leading to overflow urinary incontinence in rats

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics 2021-02, Vol.40 (2), p.624-631
• Main Authors: Maeda, Kotomi, Hotta, Yuji, Shibayama, Maaya, Kawata, Ryoya, Kataoka, Tomoya, Matsumoto, Seiji, Yamamoto, Tokunori, Kimura, Kazunori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accessory nerve; Animal models; Bladder; Fibrosis; major pelvic ganglion; Nerves; neurogenic bladder; overflow urinary incontinence; rat; Urethra; Urinary incontinence; Urinary tract; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.24612

Aims To investigate the relationship between lower urinary tract function and the accessory nerve (ACN) arising from the major pelvic ganglion (MPG). Methods Ten‐week‐old male Wistar/ST rats were randomly divided into eight groups according to the type of treatment (sham or bilateral accessory nerve injury [BACNI]) and the duration of observation (3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or 4 weeks: Sham‐3d, Sham‐1w, Sham‐2w, Sham‐4w, BACNI‐3d, BACNI‐1w, BACNI‐2ws, and BACNI‐4w. BACNI was induced in the following manner: the ACN was crushed for 1 min (2 mm away from the MPG) using reverse‐action tweezers. The same procedure was performed on both sides. On the last day of each observation period, the bladder function was measured by awake cystometry, and histological evaluation was performed. Results All rats in the Sham groups micturated normally. In the BACNI‐3d and BACNI‐1w groups, all rats showed symptoms of overflow urinary incontinence (OUI). This OUI improved gradually over time. The bladder's size in the BACNI group was significantly larger than that in the Sham group (p