Immunoexpression of adrenergic receptors in detrusor from patients with prune belly syndrome: a digital quantification.
BACKGROUND
Prune belly syndrome (PBS) presents with large-capacity bladders, high compliance and post-void residual volumes. Operative and conservative treatments are controversial. When histologically compared to normal bladder, bladder outlet obstruction results in an up- or down-regulation of adrenoceptors. Our goal was to study the immunoexpression of adrenoceptors in detrusor from patients with PBS.


METHODS
Bladder domes from PBS patients (n=14) were studied (PBG). For normal controls, bladder specimens were obtained at adult surgery (n=13) (CG1) and at child autopsy (n=5) (CG2). Staining was performed using antibodies to alpha1a, alpha1b, alpha1d and beta3 adrenoceptors. Five to 10 images were captured on an optic microscope with a digital camera and analysed with Photoshop. The immunocyhistochemical index with arbitrary units was calculated and compared.


RESULTS
Mean age was 1.28, 64 and 1.41 years for PBG, CG1 and CG2, respectively. The immunohistochemical index with arbitrary units of alpha1a receptors was 0.06 in PBG, 0.16 in CG1 and 0.14 in CG2 (p=0.008); of alpha1b 0.06, 0.06 and 0.07 (p=0.781); and of alpha1d 0.04, 0.04 and 0.05 (p=0.618). Regarding beta3 the respective values were 0.07, 0.14 and 0.10 (p=0.378).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show a decrease in alpha1a-adrenoceptor immunostaining intensity in detrusor from children with PBS. Further in vitro studies are needed to determine whether these observations are physiologically significant.
Schneider-Monteiro
Edison D
ED
Division of Urology, University of São Paulo Medical School Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. edisondsm@gmail.com
Dénes
Francisco T
FT
Hampel
Christian
C
Leite
Katia R M
KR
Thüroff
Joachim W
JW
Srougi
Miguel
M
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010784:Photomicrography / Q000379:methods*; D011535:Prune Belly Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019459:Urothelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
C547713:ADRA1A protein, human; C547716:ADRA1B protein, human; C547719:ADRA1D protein, human; D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3