TEMPORAL CHANGES IN MICTURITION AND BLADDER CONTRACTILITY AFTER SUCROSE DIURESIS AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES-MELLITUS IN RATS

Studies were done to compare the acute effects of streptozotocin-induc ed diabetes and sucrose consumption on micturition, bladder mass and c ontractile responses of bladder strips to field stimulation and contra ctile agonists. Micturition changes occurred gradually in diabetic rat s, reached maximal values within 7 to 14 days, and were accompanied by significant increases in bladder mass after 7 days. Bladder strips fr om diabetics responded to field stimulation, carbachol and KCI with si gnificantly greater contractions than did those from controls within 7 days. Sucrose-drinking rats had maximal increases in fluid consumptio n and micturition frequency on the first night after starting treatmen t. Increases in micturition volumes were slower to develop than in dia betics. Bladder mass was significantly increased 30 and 60 days after starting sucrose treatment. Bladder strips from sucrose-drinking rats responded to field stimulation and carbachol with significantly greate r contractions than did those from controls only after 60 days. Monito ring of drinking and micturition patterns established that diabetic ra ts drink and urinate during both the dark and light cycles. In contras t, control and sucrose-drinking rats drink and urinate principally at night. The results demonstrate that differences in bladder function be tween diabetic and sucrose drinking rats are apparent during the first month after treatment begins. The data suggest that the effects of di abetes and sucrose consumption on contractile bladder function are rel ated to the diuresis-induced increases in bladder mass.