Cystometry Lab Station

The small animal cystometry lab station is designed for performing in-vivo measurements of bladder function in mice and rats. It is ideal for physiological assessment of bladder function in “knock-out” and transgenic mice.

This system allows standard urological tests and cystometrigrams to be performed in conscious, unrestrained mice and rats while measuring bladder capacity, filling pressure, micturition pressure, and voided urine volume. The experimental animal is chronically instrumented with an intra-bladder catheter, which is routed underneath the skin and exteriorized at the base of the animal’s neck.*

A computer-controlled syringe pump infuses saline into the bladder, and an in-line pressure transducer records intra-bladder pressure during the infusion. When bladder capacity is reached, the transducer records pressure during the urination event (micturition). An analytical balance is located beneath the animal cage, which records the weight of urine to provide an index of voided urine volume.

* This technique requires familiarity with small animal survival surgery.