MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE FETAL BOVINE BLADDER LAMINA PROPRIA AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH CHANGES IN EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

摘要

We have evaluated the mechanical and compositional properties of the fetal bovine bladder lamina propria to determine the correlation between changes in the bladder mechanics and alterations in the content of the extracellular matrix. The stiffness of the lamina propria was found to increase during gestation, and the ratio of fibrillin-1 to type 1 collagen was found to correlate significantly with this increase. These data suggest that changes in the composition of lamina propria ECM may be useful indices of changes in bladder compliance.