The effect of pharmacological stimulation and blockade of autonomic receptors and of pudendal blockade on urethral stress relaxation in healthy women.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influence of autonomic receptor stimulation and blockade (noradrenaline, prazosin, terbutaline, propranolol, carbachol and atropine), and of pudendal nerve blockade on urethral stress relaxation.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty healthy women were evaluated. The stress relaxation parameter was defined as the relative rate of pressure decrease during a fixed period of time following a rapid dilatation of the urethra. The dilatation was performed by water-infusion into a small rubber cylinder placed in the urethra.

RESULTS

The drugs did not affect stress relaxation significantly, whereas the pudendal blockade produced a significant change along the length of the urethra characterized by a faster pressure decay following dilatation.

CONCLUSION

In women, stress relaxation in the urethra relies significantly on the pudendal nerve-innervated striated muscles.