UROREC: A cystometry and electromyography recording system for analyzing urinary incontinence parameters in rat models.

Abstract

Preclinical research on the lower urinary tract relies heavily on murine models, which necessitates specialized equipment for acquiring concurrent electromyography and cystometry. However, commercial systems are often expensive and bulky, requiring dedicated workstations. These limitations hinder the reproducibility of complex urodynamic studies and restrict experimental accessibility. To address these limitations, we present the UROREC system, which is an accessible, compact, and reliable data acquisition platform designed to simultaneously record electromyography of the external urethral sphincter and intravesical pressure. We established the system's robustness through benchtop electrical characterization and validated it via in vivo proof-of-concept pilot experiments in urethane-anesthetized female Wistar rats. Electrical testing confirmed a common-mode rejection ratio of 98.4 dB, an input-referred noise of 1.53 µV RMS, and linearity of R2 = 0.9999. Meanwhile, the pressure sensor exhibited a maximum hysteresis of 0.29% at full scale. In vivo, the device reliably digitized electromyography signals at 20 ksps and pressure signals at 100 sps in both a healthy physiological state and an acetic acid-induced overactive bladder model. UROREC precisely quantified 18 cystometric and electromyographic parameters consistent with the existing literature. The robustness of these in vivo recordings was confirmed by quantifying the signal-to-noise ratio, demonstrating high operational reliability and data integrity across all experimental sessions. Furthermore, the system accurately captured high sensitivity to specific pathophysiological shifts induced by acid instillation, with a significant reduction in both the inter-contraction interval (p < 0.001) and tonic activity duration (p < 0.001). These results validate UROREC as a robust, cost-effective alternative that makes high-fidelity urodynamic monitoring more accessible and promotes methodological reproducibility in lower urinary tract research.