title: The effect of L-arginine on bladder dysfunction following ovariectomy in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nitric oxide precursor, L: -arginine, on bladder function following ovariectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight New Zealand white female rabbits were separated into seven groups. Groups 1 to 6 underwent ovariectomy surgery. Among them, groups 1 and 2 received ovariectomy without treating with L-arginine. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were given high L-arginine diet and were sacrificed 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after ovariectomy, respectively. Group 7 served as the control group. The effects of L: -arginine on the contractility of bladder tissues were determined in response to various stimulations. In addition, L-arginine effects on the expression of Rho kinase (ROK), protein kinase C potentiated inhibitor (CPI-17), caldesmon (CaD), and calponin (CaP) were studied by immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ovariectomy significantly decreases contractile response to all forms of stimulation. Feeding rabbits L: -arginine significantly increases contractile response at 1 day following ovariectomy, but the response decreases to the control level by 14 days. Ovariectomy increases the expressions of both isoforms of CaD, CaP, and CPI-17; L-arginine treatment induces ROK underexpression, while CaP is overexpressed in the early few days of ovariectomy but returns to the control level at 2 weeks after ovariectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ovariectomy appreciably reduced bladder contractility. Treatment with L-arginine reversed the ovariectomy-induced bladder dysfunction. Decreased bladder contractile response was observed in the early days following ovariectomy.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Mien
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Yung-Shun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Cheng-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Chun-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Keh-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D000096985:Calponins; C491521:CPI-17 protein, Oryctolagus cuniculus