Morphometric analysis of the collagen changes induced by subcutaneous injection of interferon-gamma after bladder outlet obstruction in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of interferon-gamma injection on changes in collagen content, after the creation of partial bladder outlet obstruction in the rats.


METHODS
A total of 50 Sprague-Dawley female rats were subjected to partial bladder outlet obstruction by using metal rods. The rats were divided into five groups (n = 10 in each group): normal control (N), sham operation (S), bladder outlet obstruction for 4 weeks (BOO), interferon-gamma injection after sham operation (S + IFN), and interferon-gamma injection after bladder outlet obstruction (BOO + IFN). Interferon-gamma was subcutaneously injected (100,000 units per injection, LG chemical Co., Seoul, Korea) daily for 4 weeks in the injection groups, after which all rats were sacrificed.


RESULTS
The collagen area percentage (collagen/collagen + muscle) in each bladder, calculated through image analysis, was 40.7 +/- 1.6% in the N, 38.2 +/- 2.0% in the S, 26.6 +/- 3.8% in the S + IFN, 19.9 +/- 2.5% in the BOO, and 12.4 +/- 2.0% in the BOO + IFN group (mean +/- standard error). The difference in the collagen area percentage between the N and S groups (P > 0.05) was not significant, but there were significant differences between the N and S + IFN groups (P < 0.05), between the S and S + IFN groups (P < 0.05), and between the BOO and BOO + IFN groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that interferon-gamma decreases the collagen content in the obstructed rat bladder.
Kim
Kwang Myung
KM
Department of Urology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. kwang@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Kang
Jeongyoon
J
Jung
Jung Yun
JY
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen