Effect of stress on the expression of rho-kinase and collagen in rat bladder tissue.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the effect of stress on the pathophysiology of bladder stability in terms of enzyme levels, Rho-kinase, and bladder relaxation.


METHODS
A total of 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in scheduled stress environments for 7, 14, and 28 days; 24 rats were in the control group and 24 rats were in the test (stressed) group.


RESULTS
Estrogen decreased significantly whereas testosterone and dopamine increased significantly in the stress group (p<0.05). Rho-kinase was significantly increased in the rats exposed to stress stimuli for 14 days (p<0.05). Collagen types I and III in the bladder tissue were significantly higher in rats exposed to stress for 14 days and 28 days (collagen type I in the 14-day group, p<0.01; collagen type I in the 28-day group, p<0.05; collagen type III in the 14-day and 28-day groups, p<0.05). Voiding frequency increased significantly as the duration of stress exposure was prolonged, in addition to a significant decrease in volume per voiding (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The changes observed in micturition pattern, factors that contribute to smooth muscle contraction, and relaxation in the female rat bladder support the hypothesis that stress affects bladder stability.
Yoon
Hana
H
Department of Urology, Medical Research Center, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Donghyun
D
Chun
Kyemin
K
Yoon
Hyunsuk
H
Yoo
Jaeyeong
J