AIMS: Intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD) denotes a malfunction of the distal urethral sphincter. Our objective was to produce a durable model of ISD in the rat. METHODS: Surrounding tissues lateral to the mid-urethra were cauterized to produce sphincteric injury in 24 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into four groups of six rats each and followed for 2, 4, 6, and 16 weeks. Sphincteric function was studied by using the vertical tilt table/intravesical pressure clamp model to measure leak point pressures (LPPs). Muscle and nerve damage were assessed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and anti-protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 staining, respectively. As a control, 12 rats underwent a sham operation and subsequent LPP testing at 2, 4, 6, and 16 weeks. RESULTS: The mean LPPs of the rats 2, 4, 6, and 16 weeks after cauterization were 18.7 +/- 0.8 cm H2O, 27.6 +/- 1.6 cm H2O, 24.3 +/- 1.7 cm H2O, and 19.1 +/- 2.2 cm H2O, respectively. The mean LPPs of the rats 2, 4, 6, and 16 weeks after the sham operation were 49.8 +/- 1.3 cm H2O, 51.2 +/- 1.5 cm H2O, 51.6 +/- 2.0 cm H2O, and 49.7 +/- 0.6 cm H2O, respectively. When compared to time-matched control groups, the decreased LPPs in each cauterized group were significantly lower (P < 0.001). Histological analysis showed muscle damage and fewer nerves in all cauterized groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cauterization of tissues lateral to the mid-urethra decreased LPP without affecting bladder function. This electrocauterization model produced low LPPs that, after 2 weeks, were maintained for up to 16 weeks. Histology suggests that damage to striated muscle and nerves might have contributed to the change in LPP in this model for ISD.