Objective: We review "in vivo" methods most commonly used for the investigation of detruso-sphincteric pharmacological response. We compare this information with the procedures used in our Institution for these purposes.
Methods: The medical databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Pascal Biomed were searched to identify articles on this subject. The methods used have been critically analyzed and compared with the methods used in our experiments.
Results: The "in vivo" dynamic investigation of vesico-sphincteric function began at our Institution in the late 70s. Methods for the study of vesical or urethral dynamic behaviour have been devised to be applied independently or simultaneously. Great difficulties have been encountered, both in our experience and in the work of revised authors, in the integrated investigation of Lower Urinary Tract function. Methods to overcome these drawbacks have been proposed.
Conclusions: Methods for "in vivo" studies of physiological and pharmacological detruso-sphincteric function are presented and compared with current procedures found in the literature. It is highlighted that an integrated method for the simultaneous study of vesico-sphincteric function is a difficult challenge yet to be taken up.