title: IB4 afferent sprouting contributes to bladder dysfunction in spinal rats.
abstract: We investigated the role that nonpeptidergic isolectin-B4 (IB4) positive, primary afferent sprouting plays in bladder dysfunction after spinal cord transection (SCT). Rats were implanted with an indwelling bladder cannula and subjected to a complete spinal cord transection at T9/T10. In one group of rats IB4-positive terminals increased below the level of the injury in L6 cord in laminae I and III-VI as early as 3 days after transection, and remained increased 8 and 21 days after transection. Growth associated protein 43 (Gap-43) was expressed on IB4-positive neurons 3 days post-transection and the number of L6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons expressing IB4 did not change after injury. In another set of experiments IB4-saporin or saporin alone was administered intrathecally to L6/S1 cord. IB4-positive afferents sprouted in L6 cord of saporin only treated rats but IB4 afferent labeling was decreased by 42 and 33% in L6 cord and DRG 21 days after IB4-saporin treatment. IB4-saporin treated rats voided with an efficiency of 28.3% 10-14 days after transection whereas one week later voiding efficiency increased to 86.1%. Inefficient voiding by saporin and 10-14 day IB4-saporin treated rats was linked to voiding that occurred after the peak in micturition pressure. On the other hand, increased voiding efficiency in 20-30 day IB4-saporin treated rats was associated with voiding occurring before the peak of the micturition pressure. These results suggest that IB4-positive afferent sprouting plays a role in the generation of bladder dysfunction following SCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: N D T
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Zinck
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Downie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D037102:Lectins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076985:Saporins; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C496198:IB4-saporin conjugate; D037102:Lectins; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D000076985:Saporins