AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 258, Issue 6 1508-R1511, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Micturition reflexes in decerebrate and spinalized neonatal rats

M. N. Kruse and W. C. De Groat
Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261.

Micturition in neonatal rats is mediated by a spinal reflex pathway activated by the mother licking the perineum (the perineal-to-bladder reflex, P-Bld). Micturition in adult rats is mediated by a spinobulbospinal reflex pathway activated by bladder distension (the bladder-to-bladder reflex, Bld-Bld). This study examines the postnatal development of the Bld-Bld reflex in decerebrate or spinalized unanesthetized and urethan-anesthetized rat pups 2-26 days of age. Urethan anesthesia depressed both the Bld-Bld and P-Bld micturition reflexes. Bld-Bld micturition reflexes (peak intravesical pressures of 13 +/- 6 cmH2O and durations of 35 +/- 11 s) were noted in 54% of 2-day-old decerebrate pups and in all of the 6- and 9-day-old decerebrate pups but in none of the 2- or 9-day-old spinalized pups. We conclude that a weak supraspinal Bld-Bld reflex is present during the early postnatal period; however, the P-Bld reflex is the primary mediator of micturition in the neonatal rat.

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