Effects of glucose deprivation on the contractile response of the rabbit bladder to repetitive stimulation

Abstract

The urinary bladder requires an adequate energy supply to maintain contractile function. The primary metabolic fuel is glucose. Through glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, high energy phosphates are generated, which in turn supply the metabolic energy for the contractile activities of the urinary bladder. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of glucose deprivation and recovery from glucose deprivation on the phasic and tonic components of the contractile responses of rabbit bladder strips to field stimulation, bethanechol, and KCl. The results can be summarized as follow: In response to glucose deprivation, (1) the tonic responses to field stimulation, bethanechol, and KCl all decreased at a significantly greater rate than the phasic responses; (2) the phasic and tonic responses to field stimulation were both reduced to less than 10% of control within 70 minutes of initiating glucose deprivation; (3) the tonic responses to bethanechol and KCI were reduced to approximately 10% of control within 180 minutes whereas the phasic responses remained stable at 40 and 30%, respectively; and (4) glucose replacement stimulated a rapid and nearly complete recovery of the phasic and tonic components of the responses to field stimulation, bethanechol, and KCI. These results indicate that the tonic responses to all forms of stimulation are more sensitive to glucose deprivation than the phasic responses.