Ontogeny of neuropeptides in the rat urinary bladder.
Urinary bladders of male rats at ages ranging from 1 day to 18 months were analysed for their neuropeptide content. NPY was detected at birth, VIP and CGRP at 1 week, and SP at 2 weeks. There was then a sharp increase in both the total amounts and concentrations of VIP, CGRP and SP until the rats had reached the age of 3-4 weeks. The total amount of NPY increased in two surges, between 2-3 weeks and between 4-5 weeks. The concentration of NPY showed a biphasic course, a decrease during the first two weeks and then an increase. In adults the total amounts of substance P and CGRP were higher than in younger animals, whereas that of VIP was lower. Following peaks at 3-8 weeks, the concentrations of VIP and substance P decreased with age, whereas that of CGRP remained unchanged. NPY was not followed beyond 8 weeks. The present findings offer a framework for future studies aimed at elucidating the functional role of neuropeptides in the regulation of micturition.
Ekström
J
J
Department of Pharmacology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Ekman
R
R
Håkanson
R
R
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide