Nerve transfer for restoration of lower motor neuron-lesioned bladder function. Part 3: Correlation between histological changes and nerve evoked contractions.

We determined the effect of pelvic organ decentralization and reinnervation one year later on urinary bladder histology and function. Nineteen canines underwent decentralization by bilateral transection of all coccygeal and sacral (S) spinal roots, dorsal roots of lumbar (L)7 and hypogastric nerves. After exclusions, 8 were reinnervated 12 months post-decentralization with obturator-to-pelvic and sciatic-to-pudendal nerve transfers, then euthanized 8-12 months later; four served as long-term decentralized only animals. Before euthanasia, pelvic or transferred nerves and L1-S3 spinal roots were stimulated and maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) recorded. Bladder specimens were collected for histological and ex vivo smooth muscle contractility studies. Both reinnervated and decentralized animals showed less or denuded urothelium, fewer intramural ganglia, and more inflammation and collagen, than controls, although percent muscle was maintained. In reinnervated animals, pgp9.5+ axon density was higher, compared to decentralized animals. Ex vivo smooth muscle contractions in response to KCl correlated positively with submucosal inflammation, detrusor muscle thickness, pgp9.5+ axon density. In vivo, reinnervated animals showed higher MDP after stimulation of L1-L6 roots, compared to their transected L7-S3 roots, and reinnervated and decentralized animals showed lower MDP than controls after stimulation of nerves (due likely to fibrotic nerve encapsulation). MDP correlated negatively with detrusor collagen and inflammation, and positively with pgp9.5+ axon density and intramural ganglia numbers. These results demonstrate that bladder function can be improved by transfer of obturator nerves to pelvic nerves at one year after decentralization, although the fibrosis and inflammation that developed were associated with decreased contractile function.