EFFECTS OF CHRONIC PARTIAL OUTLET OBSTRUCTION ON BLOOD FLOW AND OXYGENATION OF THE RAT BLADDER

Abstract
Conclusions In contrast to the rabbit model, global blood flow in the mild-moderate chronically obstructed rat bladder was found to be higher or nearly equivalent to blood flow in unobstructed control rat bladders. However, even in the presence of normal or above normal blood flow focal regions of hypoxia were still observed in obstructed rat bladders and these regions changed with time. These results provide a reason to understand better why rats are more resistant to the onset of bladder decompensation than rabbits and support the concept that hypoxia is involved in bladder remodeling as well as in progressive functional impairment of the bladder after partial bladder outlet obstruction.