title: Distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal and expression of nitric oxide synthase after experimental bladder outlet obstruction in a rat model of bladder overactivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have showed that interstitial cells (ICs) are widely distributed in the genitourinary tract and have suggested their involvement in spontaneous electrical activity and muscle contraction. Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play a role in bladder overactivity related with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of bladder overactivity induced by BOO on ICs and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in rat urinary bladder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague-Dawley rats (230-240  g, n = 40) were divided into two groups: control (group Con, n = 20) and partial BOO (group BOO, n = 20). After 4 weeks, urodynamic studies measuring contraction interval and contraction pressure were done. The cellular localization of cKit immunoreactive ICs and the expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in the rat urinary bladder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Filling cystometry studies demonstrated a reduced interval between voiding contractions and an increased voiding pressure in BOO bladders. The contraction interval time (2.9 ± 0.35  min) was significantly decreased in the BOO group compared to the control (6.1 ± 0.05; P < 0.05). The population of ICs was increased in the suburothelial and muscle layers in BOO bladders. ICs had a close contact with each other and neighboring nNOS expressing cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrated an increased population of ICs in the BOO rat model and suggest that the functional change of ICs and NOS isoforms may contribute to the pathophysiology of bladder overactivity induced by BOO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Ouck
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: In-Yeup
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kuyoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Eu Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyung Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dongdeuk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwangsung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000201:enzymology*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D011312:Pressure; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics
chemical_list: D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit