Chronic sacral nerve stimulation as a novel treatment for stress urinary incontinence - A rat model

Abstract

Aims We propose an animal model to evaluate the effect of chronic sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on surgically induced intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) secondary to transabdominal urethrolysis (U-Lys). Methods Twenty-five 6-week old virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control (CTRL), U-Lys only, SNS only, and both (U-Lys/SNS). Groups CTRL (N-=-5) and U-Lys only (N-=-5) were maintained in the animal research facility in standard fashion for 2 weeks. Groups SNS only (N-=-5) and U-Lys/SNS (N-=-10) underwent chronic SNS for 6 continuous hours daily for 2 weeks. Retrograde leak point pressure (RLPP) was measured at baseline and at 2 weeks following observation or treatment. Five consecutive RLPP measurements were averaged per measurement cycle. SAS 9.3 was used to evaluate means and standard deviation. Results Baseline mean RLPP was 65-mmHg. The U-Lys only group mean RLPP at initial urethrolysis (58-mmHg) decreased (31-mmHg, P-