Mechanical Properties of the Fetal Bovine Bladder Lamina Propria and Their Correlation With Changes in Extracellular Matrix

The urinary bladder is an organ whose purpose is to store urine at low pressure and periodically expel it. This system normally operates at relatively low pressure to protect the kidneys from the deleterious effects of increased pressure. In certain pathologies, this organ can be subject to a decrease in compliance (“stiffening”) and an increase of the storage pressure which causes higher back pressure on the kidney and ultimately results in kidney damage if untreated. Clinically, these pathologies are exemplified in disorders such as myelomeningocele, posterior urethral valves, dysfunctional voiding, and disorders associated with spinal cord injuries. In these disorders, bladder structure is altered and the bladder becomes stiff and noncompliant.