Effects of electroacupuncture on the micturition reflex and urethral closure in a rat model of stress urinary incontinence: the role of spinal 5-HT_2C receptor mediated signaling.

This article focuses on evaluating the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) in a rat model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) induced by vaginal distension (VD). The study found that EA treatment significantly restored urethral closure function, measured by leak point pressure (LPP), without affecting bladder micturition reflexes. Molecular analyses revealed that EA upregulated spinal cord expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A and 5-HT2C receptors, with pharmacological blockade experiments indicating that the 5-HT2C receptor plays a critical role in mediating EA's beneficial effects on urinary continence. These findings suggest that EA may represent a promising treatment for SUI related to childbirth trauma, potentially through modulation of spinal serotonergic pathways.