Microvascular architecture of the human urinary bladder wall: a corrosion casting study

Abstract

The vascular system of the urinary bladder wall effectively performs its function in spite of considerable spatial changes due to the filling/voiding cycle. However, only a few studies have dealt with the microvascular architecture of the bladder wall and only two, using old-fashioned techniques, were devoted to the human bladder. This study presents the microvasculature of the human bladder wall visualized by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. Postoperative bladder specimens obtained from patients with advanced bladder tumors were filled with small amount (80 ml) of saline and perfused via at least four largest arteries with anticoagulant-containing saline followed by paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixative and Mercox resin. After polymerization of the resin, the vascular casts were macerated with potassium hydroxide, cleaned with formic acid and water and freeze dried. Only regions of the bladder wall distant to the tumor were examined in light and scanning electron microscopes. The almost empty state of the bladder was manifested by extensive folding of the mucosa and tortuosity of almost all vessels other than capillaries. The branches of main arteries and veins formed an adventitial/serosal plexus which directly supplied/drained the capillary network of the muscularis and sent long perpendicular vessels to the mucosal plexus. These vessels had straight or coiled course depending on whether they terminated at the top or at the base of the mucosal folds. The rich mucosal plexus followed the folds parallel to their surface and gave off short, straight, mostly perpendicular twigs communicating with the subepithelial capillary network. Apart from very few vascular interconnections between the mucosal plexus and the muscularis, the submucosa was generally avascular. The subepithelial capillary network showed extreme density and uneven contours of the capillaries, only in less folded areas of trigone and urethral orifice the network was looser and capillaries thinner. The capillary system of the muscularis was poorly developed. Due to its architecture, tortuosity, and coiling/uncoiling capabilities, the microvasculature of the human urinary bladder wall seems to efficiently accommodate changes associated with cyclic contraction and stretching. Disturbances in blood flow induced by overdistension of the bladder reported in several studies may be due to pressure of the urine affecting the patency of the vessels rather than to the spatial insufficiency of the vascular system.