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1 Bioengineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Growth and Development Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2 Bioengineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
3 Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
4 Division of Urologic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
5 Bioengineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Growth and Development Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
6 Bioengineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Vascuar Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: vorpda{at}msx.upmc.edu.
Despite its principal mechanical function in the storage and release of urine, the biomechanical properties of the urethra have remained largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an experimental model that can be used for evaluating whole urethra tissue in such a manner. Bladder-urethra specimens were excised from halothane-anesthetized female rats and mounted at in vivo length within the experimental apparatus consisting of a tissue perfusion chamber, an adjustable fluid column, and a laser micrometer. Outer diameter measurements were made at proximal, mid, and distal axial locations in response to increases in intralumenal pressure and following addition of various muscle-responsive agents. Basal smooth muscle tone and regional variations in compliance were detected through pressure-diameter responses. Chemically-evoked contractile responses were measured and correspond to regional compositions of intrinsic smooth and striated muscle components. The results presented illustrate the utility of this system, which should permit a more thorough characterization of structure-function relationships and urethral biomechanical function in relation to normal and dysfunctional tissue states.
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