Objectives. To determine the effect of drainage on rabbit bladder blood flow after 4 weeks of partial outlet obstruction. Previous studies have shown that catheterization and drainage of the urinary bladder in control rabbits resulted in a significant nitric oxide-induced increase of blood flow to the bladder. It was also shown that 4 weeks’ partial outlet obstruction caused a significant decrease in blood flow to the bladder.

Methods. Male New Zealand White rabbits underwent partial outlet obstruction by standard methods. After 4 weeks, the blood flow to the bladder muscle and mucosa was determined by a microsphere technique. Within 1 to 2 minutes after transurethral catheterization and complete drainage of the bladder, the blood flow was again determined. Unobstructed animals served as controls. Four other control animals underwent a repetitive blood flow study during 10 minutes to determine the time frame of blood flow changes after drainage. Blood flow was also measured in 2 control rabbits after transurethral catheterization without drainage and in 2 control rabbits after drainage by suprapubic puncture. To exclude the possibility that increased intravesical pressure alters the blood flow measurements, the relationship between the intravesical volume and the bladder pressure was examined in the obstructed rabbits.

Results. After drainage of the bladder, the blood flow to the bladder muscle increased 4.5-fold in the decompensated obstructed group (bladder weights greater than 15 g) and 2.5-fold in the compensated animals (bladder weights less than 5 g) and control animals. Blood flow to the mucosa followed the same pattern but without reaching significance. Blood flow returned to near baseline values within 5 minutes. Catheterization without drainage did not alter the blood flow. In contrast, drainage by puncture increased the blood flow significantly. Higher intravesical volumes increased the intravesical pressure slightly, but after opening the abdominal fascia, the intravesical pressure did not change with increasing volumes.

Conclusions. Although the previously shown decreased blood flow to the bladder smooth muscle may be an etiologic factor in bladder contractile dysfunction secondary to partial outlet obstruction, the bladder does have the ability to increase the blood flow after drainage. This ability could be a compensatory and possibly protective mechanism after outlet obstruction.