['We investigated the relationship of bladder mass to responses to electrical field stimulation and adrenergic agonists in diabetic rat bladders.', 'Longitudinal strips were removed from the ventral and dorsal detrusor of age matched control, 2-month diabetic and sucrose drinking rats. Contractile responses to electrical field stimulation, KCl and phenylephrine, and relaxation in response to norepinephrine and isoproterenol were measured.', 'Bladders from sucrose drinking and diabetic rats weighed significantly more than those of controls. Diabetic rats were divided into 2 groups with the bladder weighing less than or greater than 265 mg. Strips from small diabetic bladders were generally more responsive to field stimulation and norepinephrine than those from control or sucrose drinking rats. Conversely decreased function was especially apparent in dorsal strips from large diabetic bladders. Ventral strips were significantly more sensitive to the relaxant actions of norepinephrine and isoproterenol than dorsal strips.'] Does functional response of bladder strips from streptozotocin diabetic rats depend on bladder mass?