Influence of the thyroid state on the intrinsic contractile properties of the bladder muscle.

The role of thyroid hormones on the contractile responses of the isolated rat urinary bladder strips to acetilcholine and potassium chloride (in depolarising Tyrode solution) was examined. Chronic administration of thyroxine (6-8 micrograms/100 g body wt/day) for 15 days caused stimulation of acetylcholine and potassium chloride-induced contractile responses of the rat urinary bladder strip. Thyroidectomy caused inhibition of acetylcholine and potassium chloride-induced contractile responses of the rat urinary bladder strip. These findings suggest that the thyroid state affects the intrinsic contractile state of bladder muscle.