Spinal cord stimulation modulates activity of lumbosacral spinal neurons receiving input from urinary bladder in rats

The aim of this study was to determine whether spinal cord stimulation (SCS) modulates activity of lumbosacral spinal neurons receiving input from the urinary bladder. Extracellular potentials of L6–S2 spinal neurons were recorded in pentobarbital anesthetized, paralyzed and ventilated male rats. SCS (50 Hz, 0.2 ms, 3–5 min, 90% motor threshold) was applied on the dorsal column of L2–L3 and C1–C2 segments and significantly reduced excitatory responses of 18/25 (72%) and 13/19 (68%) lumbosacral neurons to noxious urinary bladder distension (UBD, ≥1.0 ml, 20 s), respectively. SCS affected spinal neurons with either high- or low-threshold responses to UBD. These results suggested that SCS might have a potential therapeutic effect for patients with hypersensitivity and/or pain of cystitis and other urinary bladder disorders.