Functional bombesin receptors in urinary tract of rats and human but not of pigs and mice, an in vitro study.
OBJECTIVE
Bombesin receptors (BB receptors) and/or bombesin related peptides are expressed in the lower urinary tract, though their function and distribution in different species is largely unknown. This study examines whether BB receptor agonists can contract bladder smooth muscle in rats, mice, pigs and humans.


METHODS
Bladder strips were placed in tissue baths for in vitro contractility. Neuronally evoked contractions were elicited using electric field stimulation (EFS). Effects of the BB receptor agonists, neuromedin B (NMB; BB1 receptor agonist) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP; BB2 receptor agonist) on baseline tone and EFS-induced contractions were monitored.


RESULTS
In rat and human bladder strips, NMB and GRP (10(-11)-10(-6)M) increased EFS-induced contractions in a concentration dependent manner. In these species, NMB and GRP also increased baseline tension. In mouse and pig bladder strips, NMB and GRP (10(-8)-3×10(-6)M) had no effects on either parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that bombesin receptors BB receptor 1 and/or BB receptor 2 increase bladder contractions in rat and human. The site of action of these receptors may be pre- and/or post-synaptic, increasing release of transmitters or enhancing smooth muscle excitability, respectively. Thus, BB1 receptor and/or BB2 receptor may offer therapeutic targets for voiding dysfunction associated with impaired bladder contractility; however, species differences must be considered when studying these receptors. Part of this work was published in an abstract form at the SFN meeting New Orleans, 2012.
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F Aura
FA
Kullmann
David
D
McKenna
Grace I
GI
Wells
Karl B
KB
Thor
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D015287:Neurokinin B; C038393:neuromedin B
Bladder strips; Electric field stimulation; Gastrin-releasing peptide; Neuromedin B