Effects of electrical stimulation of the thoracic spinal cord on bladder and external urethral sphincter activity in the decerebrate cat

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord above the sacral segments was used to produce coordinated micturition in the paralysed decerebrate cat. Stimulation of the superficial aspect of the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) within the lower thoracic (T9-T13) segments produced a bladder contraction coordinated with decreased activity in the external urethral sphincter (EUS) branch of the pudendal nerve during which time fluid was expelled. In addition, a similar response was observed with DLF stimulation at the boundary of the L5/L6 segments. At the second cervical spinal segment, however, stimulation of a more lateral and ventral portion of the superficial spinal white matter was the only effective site for producing micturition. The spinal cord-evoked response was comparable to the micturition evoked by electrical stimulation of the pontine micturition centre (PMC) within the brainstem. A bilateral lesion of the dorsal columns (DC) and the dorsolateral funiculi (DLF) at the lower thoracic levels abolished reflex micturition evoked by bladder distension. However stimulation rostral to the lesion, within the PMC or thoracic DLF, continued to produce coordinated bladder and sphincter response during voiding. Stimulation caudal to the lesion produced a decrease in pudendal nerve activity but did not produce a void or bladder pressure change. This reduction in pudendal nerve activity could be abolished with a second lesion of the superficial DLF caudal to the stimulation site. It was concluded that stimulation of the thoracic dorsolateral funiculus activates both ascending and descending fibres which can influence the bladder and/or sphincter muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)