Phases of decompensation during acute ischemia demonstrated in an ex vivo porcine bladder model

A porcine bladder model of pre-clinical urodynamics demonstrates increased afferent nerve activity during filling

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Urodynamics are the accepted gold standard for the evaluation of multiple forms of voiding dysfunction. However, the tests are expensive, invasive, poorly reproducible, and often prone to artifacts. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop next-generation urodynamics. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel ex vivo porcine bladder urodynamics model with afferent pelvic nerve signaling that can be used as a preclinical surrogate for bladder sensation.

METHODS

Porcine bladders including the ureters and vascular supply were harvested from local abattoirs using an established protocol in both male and female animals. Ex vivo bladder perfusion was performed using physiologic MOPS (3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid) buffer solution. The pelvic nerve adjacent to the bladder was grasped with micro-hook electrodes and electroneurogram (ENG) signals recorded at 20 kHz. Bladders were filled with saline at a nonphysiologic rate (100 mL/min) to a volume of 1 L using standard urodynamics equipment to simultaneously record intravesical pressure. ENG amplitude was calculated as the area under the curve for each minute, and ENG firing rate was calculated as number of spikes (above baseline threshold) per minute. At the conclusion of the experiment, representative nerve samples were removed and processed for nerve histology by a pathologist (hematoxylin and eosin and S100 stains).

RESULTS

A total of 10 pig bladders were used, and nerve histology confirmed the presence of nerve in all adequately processed samples. Vesical pressure, ENG firing rate, and ENG amplitude all increased as a function of filling. During filling tertiles (low fill: min 1-3, med fill: min 4-6, and high fill: min 7-10), normalized pressures were 0.22 ± 0.04, 0.38 ± 0.05, and 0.72 ± 0.07 (cmH2O). Similarly, normalized ENG firing rates were 0.08 ± 0.03, 0.31 ± 0.06, and 0.43 ± 0.04 spikes/minute, respectively, and normalized nerve amplitudes were 0.11 ± 0.06, 0.39 ± 0.06, and 0.56 ± 0.14) μV, respectively. Strong relationships between average normalized pressure values and averaged normalized ENG firing rate (r2  = 0.66) and average normalized ENG amplitude (r2  = 0.8) were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The ex vivo perfused porcine bladder can be used as a preclinical model for the development of next-generation urodynamics technologies. Importantly, the model includes a reproducible method to measure afferent nerve activity that directly correlates with intravesical pressure during filling and could potentially be used as a surrogate measure of bladder sensation.

A preliminary study of bilateral color mapping of pig bladder vasculature demonstrates potential for acute hemi-ischemic events

Background

Chronic ischemia is a known risk factor for the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder hypocontractility. Less is known, however, about the impact of acute ischemia. Classic teaching suggests that collateral circulation is robust in the bladder and, therefore, loss of a single source of blood flow should have no deleterious effect. This study aims to provide visual evidence that segmental vascular supply is critical for maintaining adequate perfusion to the bladder.

Methods

Ex vivo pig bladders were cannulated bilaterally in the superior vesical arteries and perfused using contrasting red and green dye. Images were collected at each step of the perfusion dyeing process and these images were analyzed using a custom program to calculate the average hue of each side. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test.

Results

The two halves being perfused by separate arteries showed a statistically significant difference when compared (P<0.05) on both the outer wall (n=9) and in the mucosal layer (n=4). On the outside wall, the average normalized hue of the green halves was 27.5°±14.3°, while the average normalized hue of the red halves was −58.7°±3.1°. In the mucosa, the average normalized hue of the green halves was 34.5°±17.4°, while the average normalized hue of the red halves was −51.5°±3.5°.

Conclusions

This study identified a novel color mapping method to study pig bladder vascular supply. The results demonstrated a lack of collateral blood flow, highlighting the possibly of acute hemi-ischemic event. However, further research in the effect of acute ischemia on bladder function is necessary.