Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (4): 676-681.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.180757

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Electrical stimulation of dog pudendal nerve regulates the excitatory pudendal-to-bladder reflex

Yan-he Ju1, 2, Li-min Liao1, 2, *   

  1. 1 Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China; School of Rahabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
    2 Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
  • Received:2015-09-11 Online:2016-04-30 Published:2016-04-30
  • Contact: Li-min Liao, M.D., Ph.D., lmliao@263.net.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the Capital Medical Development Research Fund of China, No. 2014-2-4141.

PDF

1203

Abstract:

Pudendal nerve plays an important role in urine storage and voiding. Our hypothesis is that a neuroprosthetic device placed in the pudendal
nerve trunk can modulate bladder function after suprasacral spinal cord injury. We had confirmed the inhibitory pudendal-to-bladder
reflex by stimulating either the branch or the trunk of the pudendal nerve. This study explored the excitatory pudendal-to-bladder reflex
in beagle dogs, with intact or injured spinal cord, by electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve trunk. The optimal stimulation frequency
was approximately 15–25 Hz. This excitatory effect was dependent to some extent on the bladder volume. We conclude that stimulation of
the pudendal nerve trunk is a promising method to modulate bladder function.

Key words: nerve regeneration, pudendal nerve, neurogenic bladder, spinal cord injury, electrical stimulation, urodynamics, voiding reflex, neuromodulation, neural regeneration