A COMPUTER-MODEL OF THE NEURAL CONTROL OF THE LOWER URINARY-TRACT

Better understanding of the underlying working mechanism of the neural control of the lower urinary tract will facilitate the treatment of d ysfunction with a neurogenic cause. We developed a computer model to s tudy the effect of a neural control system on lower urinary tract beha vior. To model the mechanical properties and neural control, assumptio ns had to be made. These assumptions were based, as much as possible, on knowledge and hypotheses taken from the literature. With valid assu mptions, it should be possible to simulate normal as well as pathologi cal behavior. To test the computer model, first, normal behavior of th e lower urinary tract was simulated, and secondly, the known features of bladder outlet obstruction were simulated after the properties of t he urethra were changed. The simulation results are comparable with me asured data, so the assumptions on which the model is based could be v alid. If the assumptions are valid, the feedback loops used in the mod el are also important feedback loops in vivo, and the model can be use d to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of neural control. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.