Kohki tea protects the rabbit bladder from ischemia/reperfusion-induced contractile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Results of several studies indicated that ischemia/reperfusion is an etiological factor in obstructive bladder dysfunction. Kohki tea pretreatment was shown to reduce the dysfunctions induced by partial outlet obstruction in rabbits. The current study was designed to determine if pretreatment of rabbits with Kohki tea could prevent the contractile dysfunctions induced by bilateral ischemia followed by reperfusion.


METHODS
New Zealand white rabbits were separated into several groups; one half of each group was pretreated by oral gavage for 3 weeks with Kohki tea and the other half was treated with vehicle (water). Experimental groups were subjected to bilateral ischemia for either 1 or 3 h followed by reperfusion for either 1 h or 1 week (4 groups). The results from the experimental groups were compared to the groups of rabbits receiving sham operations.


RESULTS
Under all experimental conditions, Kohki tea significantly reduced the contractile dysfunctions induced by ischemia and ischemia followed by reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
This data is consistent with the concept that Kohki tea acts by protecting the bladder smooth muscle and mucosa from cellular damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion.
Levin
Robert M
RM
Stratton VAMC, Albany College of Pharmacy, Albany, NY 12208-3492, USA. levinr@acp.edu
Leggett
Robert E
RE
Whitbeck
Catherine
C
Matsumoto
Seiji
S
Ohto
Nobuaki
N
Ikeda
Takao
T
Mizutani
Kenji
K
Higurashi
Akifumi
A
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011336:Probability; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013662:Tea; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000098:blood supply*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013662:Tea