title: Enhancement of the bladder defense mechanism by an exogenous agent.
abstract: The mucopolysaccharide layer produced by the transitional cells coating the bladder plays an important role in the defense mechanism of the lower urinary tract. Carbenoxolone, a drug derived from licorice, has been shown to be beneficial to patients with peptic ulcer disease by stimulating increased mucous production in the stomach. Since the bladder epithelium has an endodermal derivation, the question of whether carbenoxolone has an effect on the mucopolysaccharide layer in the bladder was put forth. Carbenoxolone was shown to provide a protective effect to laboratory-induced lower urinary tract infections in the rabbit model.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002369:Castration; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011374:Progesterone; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid