Effects of castration on female rabbit bladder physiology and morphology.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of ovariectomy on bladder blood flow and oxygen tension. Women are subject to bladder dysfunctions that occur less frequently in men. These include interstitial cystitis (syndrome of urgency, frequency, and pain on distension), incontinence, and bladder infections. It is believed that alterations in female sex hormones play a major role in mediating these abnormalities. We believe that alterations in estrogen can have marked effects on the blood flow to the bladder.


METHODS
We divided 20 female rabbits into two equal groups: ovariectomized and sham operated. Six weeks later, the bladder of each rabbit was evaluated for bladder capacity, compliance, permeability, blood flow, tissue hypoxia, morphology, and smooth muscle contraction.


RESULTS
Ovariectomy resulted in decreased bladder compliance; decreased blood flow to the bladder mucosa and uterus, a smaller decrease in blood flow to the bladder smooth muscle, and mucosal hypoxia; and statistically significant thinning of the bladder mucosa and increased mucosal permeability.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovariectomy resulted in decreased blood flow and hypoxia to the bladder mucosa and a mildly decreased blood flow to the smooth muscle. The decreased blood flow and hypoxia may be related to the age-related uropathologic findings in postmenopausal women.
Parekh
Mitesh H
MH
Department of Uro-Gynecology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Chichester
Paul
P
Lobel
Robert W
RW
Aikawa
Ken
K
Levin
Robert M
RM
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D005260:Female; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology*