The in vivo whole bladder preparation was used to correlate bladder volume with the ability of urinary bladders from control, sucrose-drinking, and diabetic rats to develop pressure in response to bethanechol or nerve stimulation. 2. Both streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and sucrose-diuresis caused an increase in rat urinary bladder capacity and mass. 3. There were significant decreases in the ability of bladders from control rats to develop pressure in response to bethanechol at 1.0 ml intravesical volume, but no change in responsiveness of bladders from sucrose-drinking or diabetic rats at different intravesical volumes. Bladders from sucrose-drinking and diabetic rats developed significantly less pressure in response to bethanechol stimulation at low intravesical volumes than did bladders from control rats. 4. Bladders from diabetic rats developed significantly less pressure in response to 32 Hz stimulation at 0.2 ml intravesical volume compared to larger volumes, however, there were no differences in the responses of bladders from sucrose-drinking or control rats at any intravesical volume. 5. Bladders from control and sucrose-drinking rats had a reduced ability to empty in response to bethanechol and field stimulation at large intravesical volumes. 6. Bladders from 8-week streptozotocin-diabetic rats are able to contract and empty efficiently in response to nerve stimulation and bethanechol over a wide range of intravesical volumes.
