Feasibility of deep brain stimulation for controlling the lower urinary tract functions: An animal study

Shih-Ching Chen; Pei-Yi Chu; Tsung-Hsun Hsieh; Yu-Ting Li; Chih-Wei Peng

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2017.09.102

Feasibility of deep brain stimulation for controlling the lower urinary tract functions: An animal study

Clin Neurophysiol. 2017 Dec;128(12):2438-2449. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.09.102. Epub 2017 Sep 30.

Authors

Shih-Ching Chen¹, Pei-Yi Chu², Tsung-Hsun Hsieh³, Yu-Ting Li⁴, Chih-Wei Peng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
² School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Instrument Technology Research Center, National Applied Research Laboratories, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; International Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cwpeng@tmu.edu.tw.

PMID: 29096218
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.09.102

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and compare the potential of four DBS targets in rats for regulating bladder activity: the periaqueductal gray (PAG), locus coeruleus (LC), rostral pontine reticular nucleus (PnO), and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg).

Methods: A bipolar stimulating electrode was implanted. The effects of DBS on the inhibition and activation of micturition reflexes were investigated by using isovolumetric intravesical pressure recordings.

Results: PAG DBS at 2-2.5 V, PnO DBS at 2-2.5 V, and PPTg DBS at 1.75-2.5 V nearly completely inhibited reflexive isovolumetric bladder contractions. By contrast, LC DBS at 1.75 and 2 V slightly augmented reflexive isovolumetric bladder contractions in rats. DBSs on PnO and PPTg at higher intensities (2.5-5 V) demonstrated a higher success rate and larger contraction area evocation in activating bladder contractions in a partially filled bladder. DBS targeting the PPTg was most efficient in suppressing reflexive isovolumetric bladder contractions.

Conclusion: PPTg DBS demonstrated stable results and high potency for controlling bladder contractions. PPTg might be a promising DBS target for developing new neuromodulatory approaches for the treatment of bladder dysfunctions.

Significance: DBS could be a potential approach to manage bladder function under various conditions.

Keywords: Bladder dysfunction; Deep brain stimulation; Locus coeruleus; Micturition reflex; Pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus; Periaqueductal gray; Rostral pontine reticular nucleus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Deep Brain Stimulation / methods*
Electric Stimulation / methods
Feasibility Studies
Female
Locus Coeruleus / physiology*
Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus / physiology*
Periaqueductal Gray / physiology*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Urinary Bladder / physiology*
Urination / physiology*