Transurethral catheterization in mice is multifaceted, serving essential functions such as perfusion and drug delivery, and is critical in the development of various urological animal disease models. The complex anatomy of the male mouse urethra presents significant challenges in transurethral catheterization, leading to a predominance of research focused on female specimens. This bias limits the utilization of male mice in lower urinary tract disease studies. Our research aims to develop new reliable methods for transurethral catheterization in adult male mice, thereby expanding their use in relevant disease research. Experiments were conducted on adult male C57BL/6J mice. Utilizing a PE10 catheter measuring 4.5-5 cm in length, the catheter was inserted into the bladder via the mouse\'s urethra under anesthesia. The intubation technique entailed regulating the insertion force, ensuring the catheter\'s lubrication, using a trocar catheter, modifying the catheter\'s trajectory, and accommodating the curvature of the bladder neck. Post-catheter insertion, ultrasound imaging was employed to confirm the catheter\'s accurate positioning within the bladder. Subsequent to catheterization, the bladder was perfused using trypan blue. This method was further validated through its successful application in establishing an acute urinary retention (AUR) model, where the mouse bladder was infused with saline to a pressure of 50 or 80 cm H2O, maintained steadily for 30 min. A thorough morphological assessment of the mouse bladder was conducted after the infusion. Our study successfully pioneered methods for transurethral catheterization in male mice. This technique not only facilitates precise transurethral catheterization but also proves applicable to male mouse models for lower urinary tract diseases, such as AUR.

Postoperative intravesical instillation of chemotherapy is a routine procedure for non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). However, traditional bladder perfusion methods have insufficient exposure time, resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. In the present study, a chitosan (CS)-based in situ forming depot (ISFD) delivery system, including Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-MNP), CS, and β-glycerophosphate (GP) as main components, was synthesized. Pirarubicin (THP), as a chemotherapeutic drug, was loaded into the new system. Results showed that our carrier system (Fe3O4-THP-CS/GP) was converted into gel and attached to the bladder wall, possessing loose network structures with magnetic targeting and sustained release properties. Moreover, its retention time in bladder was more than 72 h accompanied by a suitable expansion rate and good degradation characteristics. The antitumor activities of Fe3O4-THP-CS/GP were more effective both in vitro and in vivo than the free THP solution. In the study of its mechanism, results showed that Fe3O4-THP-CS/GP suppressed the expression of occludin (OCLN) and affected tight junctions (TJ) between urothelial cells to promote THP absorption.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture nerve stimulation therapy (ENST) for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).
METHODS: A total of 68 patients with IC/PBS were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with ENST; abdominal four acupoints and sacral four acupoints were connected with a pair of electrodes and treated alternately every other day. The ENST was given 50 min per times, three times a week for 3 months. The patients in the control group were treated with perfusion therapy of four-medication combination (heparin sodinm, lidocaine, sodium bicarbonate, gentamicin sulfate), twice a week for the first 6-8 weeks, followed by twice per month for 3 months. The infusion fluid remained for 1 h before discharging. The O\' Leary-Sant score, including interstitial cystitis symptom index (ICSI) and interstitial cystitis problem index (ICPI), 24 h urination frequency, visual analogue scale (VAS) and maximum bladder volume were observed before treatment and treatment of 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment respectively; the adverse events during the treatment were also recorded.
RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the O\'Leary-Sant score (ICSI, ICPI), 24 h urination frequency, VAS and maximum bladder volume in the two groups were improved after 1, 3 months treatment and 6 months after treatment (all P<0.05). The scores of ICSI, ICPI, VAS and 24 h urination frequency in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The maximum bladder volume in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Six months after treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 87.5% (28/32), which was higher than 69.7% (23/33) in the control group (P<0.01). No significant adverse events occurred during the treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: ENST could effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of IC/PBS, but its long-term efficacy needs further observation.