title: Modulation of bladder afferent signals in normal and spinal cord-injured rats by purinergic P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of bladder sensory purinergic P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors on modulating the activity of lumbosacral neurones and urinary bladder contractions in vivo in normal or spinal cord-injured (SCI) rats with neurogenic bladder overactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  SCI was induced in female rats by complete transection at T8-T9 and experiments were performed 4 weeks later, when bladder overactivity developed. Non-transected rats were used as controls (normal rats). Neural activity was recorded in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and field potentials were acquired in response to intravesical pressure steps via a suprapubic catheter. Field potentials were recorded under control conditions, after stimulation of bladder mucosal purinergic receptors with intravesical ATP (1 mm), and after intravenous injection of the P2X3/P2X2/3 antagonist AF-353 (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). Cystometry was performed in urethane-anaesthetised rats intravesically infused with saline. AF-353 (10 mg/kg) was systemically applied after baseline recordings; the rats also received a second dose of AF-353 (20 mg/kg). Changes in the frequency of voiding (VC) and non-voiding (NVC) contractions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCI rats had significantly higher frequencies for field potentials and NVC than NL rats. Intravesical ATP increased field potential frequency in control but not SCI rats, while systemic AF-353 significantly reduced this parameter in both groups. AF-353 also reduced the inter-contractile interval in control but not in SCI rats; however, the frequency of NVC in SCI rats was significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P2X3/P2X2/3 receptors on bladder afferent nerves positively regulate sensory activity and NVCs in overactive bladders.
authors.affiliation: Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Somogyi
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2 / Q000502:physiology*; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3