Cystometry is an efficient technique to measure bladder function of small animals in vivo. The bladder is continuously infused at rates controlled through an intravesical catheter, whereas the urethra is left free for micturition. This allows for repetitive filling and emptying of the bladder, while intravesical pressure and voided volume are recorded.
This manuscript describes the intravesical administration of uropathogenic bacteria with a lux operon to induce a urinary tract infection in mice and subsequent longitudinal in vivo analysis of the bacterial load using bioluminescence imaging.