title: Therapeutic effects of connexin inhibitors on detrusor overactivity induced by bladder outlet obstruction in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the alterations in Connexin 43 (Cx43) and connexin 26 (Cx26) levels in the bladder outlet obstruction (BOO)-induced detrusor overactivity and examine the effect of connexin inhibitors on this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated control group (n = 10), BOO group (n = 10), and 2 groups that were administered connexin inhibitors. The first of these 2 groups was administered 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (BOO-18β-GA group, n = 15) and the second group was given oleamide (BOO-oleamide group, n = 15). Cystometrogram was performed in all groups after 2 weeks of obstruction. The expression levels of Cx26 and Cx43 were analyzed using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intercontraction interval was markedly shorter in the BOO group compared with the control group (P <.05). Intercontraction intervals in the BOO-18β-GA and BOO-oleamide groups at 2 weeks were significantly longer than that observed for the BOO group (P <.05). The expression of Cx43 and Cx26 were increased in the BOO group. After administration of connexin inhibitors, downregulation of Cx43 and Cx26 was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that upregulation of Cx43 and Cx26 induce detrusor overactivity after BOO, and connexin inhibitors may have some role in relieving BOO-induced detrusor overactivity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae-Kon
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Joon Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000072259:Connexin 26; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017630:Connexins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; C000607044:Gjb2 protein, rat; D009829:Oleic Acids; D000072259:Connexin 26; C119129:18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid; C029407:oleylamide; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid