The effects of cyclical oestrogen on bladder and urethral structure and function.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of cycling oestrogen in rabbits, as oestrogen is essential for physiological maintenance and integrity of the female urogenital tract.


METHODS
Changes in circulating oestrogen have marked effects on the bladder of experimental animals, with ovariectomy (Ovx) inducing smooth muscle (SM) and mucosal atrophy, increasing collagen synthesis and deposition, decreasing contractile function, mucosal and SM blood flow; oestrogen reverses these effects and increases bladder mass and SM density, primarily by stimulating angiogenesis and increasing blood flow. Twenty adult female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into five equal groups; group 1 served as the control group, and groups 2-5 had a bilateral Ovx. Group 2 received no oestradiol and was assessed 2 weeks after Ovx; groups 3-5 received 17-beta oestradiol from a subcutaneous slow-release tablet 2 weeks after Ovx, which remained in place for a subsequent 2-week period. Group 3 was then assessed after the 2 weeks on oestradiol. Groups 4 and 5 then had their oestradiol tablets removed for 2 weeks and group 4 was assessed after this period off oestradiol. Group 5 then received a new oestradiol tablet that was left in place for an additional 2 weeks.


RESULTS
Both groups receiving oestrogen (3 and 5) had a statistically significantly greater bladder weight than both the control group and group 2. The volume fraction of SM paralleled the bladder weight, showing that oestrogen increased the volume fraction of SM whereas Ovx and low oestrogen decreased the SM fraction. The cross-sections of the urethra from groups 3 and 5 were significantly wider than those of either the control or group 1, also being consistent with the structural effects of oestrogen. Intra-arterial phenylephrine increased urethral pressure to a similar level in all groups. The urethral pressure response to intra-arterial acetylcholine shifted from contraction in the control to relaxation in the oestrogen-treated groups. Ovx resulted in a lower vascular density, whereas oestrogen resulted in a significant increase in vascular density (angiogenesis).


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclical oestrogen had pronounced structural and pharmacological effects. Low oestrogen decreased the volume fraction of SM, increased collagen, and decreased vasculature, whereas oestrogen mediated a marked hypertrophy of the SM components, decreased the collagen component, and stimulated angiogenesis. Cyclical oestrogen also had marked effects on the responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine, shifting the response from contraction to relaxation.
Palmieri
Katherine
K
Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Mannikarottu
Anita S
AS
Chichester
Paul
P
Kogan
Barry
B
Leggett
Robert E
RE
Whitbeck
Catherine
C
Levin
Robert M
RM
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011817:Rabbits; D014521:Urethra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D004958:Estradiol