Mid‑lumbar (L3) epidural stimulation effects on bladder and external urethral sphincter in non‑injured and chronically transected urethane‑anesthetized rats
Scientific Reports, 2023 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39388-9 · Published: August 4, 2023
Simple Explanation
This study explores how stimulating the spinal cord at the L3 level affects bladder and sphincter control in rats, both with and without spinal cord injuries. The researchers found that L3 stimulation can change how the bladder and sphincter work together, potentially improving bladder emptying. These findings suggest that L3 spinal cord stimulation could be a useful way to help people with spinal cord injuries who have bladder control problems.
Key Findings
- 1L3 scES at select frequencies and intensities of stimulation produced a reduction in void volumes and EUS burst duration in intact rats.
- 2After chronic transection, three different subgroups of LUT dysfunction were identified and the response to L3 scES promoted different cystometry outcomes, including changes in EUS bursting.
- 3The current findings suggest that scES at the L3 level can generate functional neuromodulation of both the urinary bladder and the EUS in intact and SCI rats to enhance voiding in a variety of clinical scenarios.
Research Summary
Practical Implications
Therapeutic Target
L3 spinal cord stimulation shows promise as a therapeutic intervention for treating lower urinary tract dysfunction in SCI patients.
Personalized Treatment
The study highlights the importance of patient-centered evaluation and tailored stimulation parameters due to the heterogeneity of urodynamic outcomes post-SCI.
Future Research
Further studies are needed to fully understand the autonomic changes after SCI and optimize scES protocols for improving bladder emptying.
Study Limitations
- 1Small sample sizes within SCI subgroups limit statistical power.
- 2Urethane anesthesia may affect bladder function.
- 3Study conducted on female rats only, results may not be generalizable to males.