An experimental approach for understanding the layer dependent role of collagen recruitment during loading in the rat bladder wall

An estimated 15 – 30% of people over the age of 60 are affected by some type of bladder dysfunction. Both filling and voiding are strongly influenced by bladder mechanical properties that are in turn dependent on the bladder specific wall architecture. In this work, we focus on an experimental approach for obtaining data for modeling the collagen fiber contribution in structurally motivated models of the bladder wall. A multiphoton compatible biaxial testing device was developed and used to evaluate the structure/function relationship between the bladder wall loading curve and collagen recruitment in the bladder wall.