New Zealand white rabbits were used due to their fully developed pelvic floor muscles and well-defined pelvic floor activation pattern (Corona-Quintanilla et al., 2009 (link); López-García et al., 2016 (link)) that is suggested to resemble previously reported human functions (DeLancey, 2016 (link)). A total of 11 young female rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (4.91 ± 0.16 months old and 3.47 ± 0.13 kg) were used in this study. Animals were induced with an injection of intramuscular ketamine (35 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg) and maintained throughout the procedure via inhaled oxygen (2 L/min) mixed with isoflurane (1–3%) delivered via a ventilator. While this gas anesthetic has known effects on the micturition reflex, it does not seem to affect direct urethral closure by pelvic floor muscles (Julia-Guilloteau et al., 2007 (link)). Analgesia throughout the procedure was achieved with a dose of intramuscular buprenorphine HCL (0.05 mg/kg), as needed. The rabbit was given intravenous normal saline at a rate of 25 mL/min (Normasol-R). Animals were euthanized at the end of the experiment with an overdose of intravenous (120 mg/kg) pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin sodium (Euthasol).
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