Short-term functional and neuroregenerative response of the urethra to ovariectomy and vaginal distension in female rats

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ovariectomy (OVX) and vaginal distension (VD) on leak point pressure (LPP) and pudendal nerve regenerative response in the female rat. Twenty rats underwent OVX 3 days prior to either VD or sham distension. Seventeen rats did not receive OVX but underwent either VD or sham distension. Four days after distension, LPP testing was performed. In situ hybridization for beta(II) tubulin mRNA, an indicator of the neuroregenerative response, was performed on motoneurons of the pudendal nerve. In the non-OVX group, LPP was significantly decreased after VD. After OVX, the difference in LPP between VD and sham rats did not quite reach the level of statistical significance. There was a statistically significant interaction between the effects of OVX and VD on LPP. There was no significant difference in in situ hybridization results between any of the groups. No neuroregenerative response of motoneurons of the pudendal nerve was observed after either VD or OVX.