The anxiolytic sertraline reduces the impact of psychological stress on bladder function in mice

To determine if treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline reduces bladder dysfunction caused by water avoidance stress in mice. Adult female mice were randomly allocated to (1) Unstressed, (2) Stressed or (3) Stress + Sertraline experimental groups. subjected for 1 h/day 10 days and received vehicle drinking water, starting 10-days prior first exposure. Age matched control/unstressed house under normal conditions without Voiding behaviour was assessed throughout protocol. After final exposure, a blood sample taken measure plasma corticosterone levels bladders removed, catheterised intravesical pressure responses recorded during distension response pharmacological agents. Plasma sertraline-treated animals equivalent unstressed controls significantly decreased compared stressed group. frequency increased group, voiding frequency, however, this remained elevated control animals. Bladders from displayed enhanced maximal contractile muscarinic agonist carbachol greater release of ACh serosal fluid, which reduced treatment. Spontaneous phasic contractions not altered but treated animals, relative controls. These results indicate that management psychological may be aided addition an SSRI such as sertraline.