Bladder responses to thoracolumbar epidural stimulation in female urethane-anesthetized rats with graded contusion spinal cord injuries v1

The current experiment utilizes epidural stimulation at T13, L3, or L6 to modulate urinary function in rats with graded spinal cord contusion injuries. Female Wistar rats with mild, moderate or severe T8 spinal cord injuries underwent epidural stimulation mapping procedures at 6 weeks post-injury. The mapping procedure included 10 and 30 Hz frequencies and intensities of 10 µA to 60 µA intensities to determine the most effective stimulus parameters to impact lower urinary tract function with simulation at T13, L3 or L6. End points included: external urethral sphincter electromyography, bladder pressure changes, voiding volume, and muscle movement thresholds. By recording these responses, and the subsequent changes in lower urinary tract function, these experiments will provide insight into optimal stimulation parameters to influence bladder activity in individuals with anatomically incomplete spinal cord injury.