Biochemical and functional evidence for nerve sprouting in the decentralized, hypertrophied rat urinary bladder

• The preganglionic nerves of the rat urinary bladder were cut. The decentralized bladders gained markedly in weight. Both one and four weeks post-operatively, transmural nerve stimulation evoked contractile responses of the muscle strips of the decentralized bladders, that were of the same magnitude as those of the control bladders. However, four weeks post-operatively, the atropine resistant fraction of the response was decreased; consequently, the atropine sensitive (cholinergic) fraction was increased. The activity of the acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, was increased at the late time of observation. The present biochemical and functional findings may suggest outgrowth of branches from the decentralized post-ganglionic cholinergic nerves.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)