Abstract
The effect of bethanechol, a muscarinic agonist, was studied by cystometrography in conscious rats with bilateral pelvic nerve (PN) lesions. In sham-operated rats, the transvesical infusion of saline elicited regularly micturition. The micturition was abolished by the bilateral PN transection, resulting in overflow incontinence. Bethanechol (30 mg/kg), administered orally to denervated rats, significantly increased the micturition frequency. Therefore, the micturition seems to be largely dependent upon muscarinic receptors of the bladder, and the finding supports the clinical effect of bethanechol. Moreover, this animal model may be useful for studying the overflow incontinence from detrusor failure of neuropathic origin.
