Effect of Parasympathetic Denervation on Feline Bladder Function

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Abstract
After section of one pelvic nerve in cats, micturition is unimpaired. Section of both pelvic nerves is followed by complete urinary retention. Within 10 days of the operation the animals void in the usual manner but only small volumes of urine are passed. After bilateral section of the sacral roots overflow incontinence is present. Pressure-volume curves were made upon normal cats lightly anesthetized with pentobarbital. At intravesical pressures of about 10 cm. H2O and bladder volumes of 60-130 cc, the detrusor muscle contracts. Similar curves were obtained in animals which had received bulbocapnine. In cats, after infiltration of the sacral roots with procaine, or injn. of tetraethyl ammonium bromide the curves were identical but the volume range would be greatly extended. Admn. of tetraethyl ammonium bromide produces no change in intravesical pressure. Immediately after bilateral section of the sacral roots the pressure-volume curve is essentially the same as that obtained after blocking the sacral roots with procaine infiltration or that found in a deeply anesthetized animal. Ten or more weeks after the operation the volume at a given pressure increased to more than twice that present immediately after operation. The increase in bladder capacity was unchanged for as long as 44 and 46 days after operation. Autonomous contractions are seen 2 or more weeks after the sacral roots are cut. 2-3 weeks after bilateral section of the pelvic nerves the bladder capacity is two or three times that of the control value. 7-10 weeks after operation the bladder capacity is the same or less than the control measurement. Large autonomous contractions are seen.