Decrease in rabbit bladder mucosal glycoprotein after oophorectomy.
Hormonal manipulation has been shown to result in less efficient bladder clearance of bacteria. We describe the use of a double antibody technique to semiquantitatively demonstrate the diminution of bladder glycoproteins from the transitional epithelium in oophorectomized rabbits. Rabbit bladder glycoprotein was isolated and used to immunize Swiss-Webster mice. Bladders of normal and oophorectomized rabbits were sequentially stained with mouse antirabbit sera and fluoresceinated goat antimouse antibody. A significant loss of bladder epithelial glycoprotein was evident in oophorectomized rabbits as compared to controls. This study, utilizing a semiquantitative immunologic staining technique, suggests an intact glycoprotein layer is important in the bladder defense mechanism.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism*
D006023:Glycoproteins