Submitted on March 29, 2007
Accepted on August 29, 2007
Changes of gap junctional cell-cell communication in overactive detrusor in the rats
Longkun Li1, Chonghe Jiang2, Ping Hao3, Weibing Li1, Caiping Song1, and Bo Song1*
1 Urology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
2 Biomedicine and surgery, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Linkoping, Sweden
3 Oncology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: songbo_cq{at}yahoo.com.
To evaluate the changes in intercellular communication through gap junctions in overactive detrusor (OD), twenty-three adult female Wistar rats with OD after partial outflow obstruction (OD group) and thirteen sham operated rats (control group) were studied. The two groups were compared using urodynamics, light and electron microscopy, expression of Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 mRNA genes with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Cx43 protein with western blot, and functional intercellular communication with scrape loading dye transfer (SLDT) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The number of gap junctions and the expression of connexin mRNA and Cx43 protein were increased in OD and intercellular communication through gap junctions increased after six weeks of partial outflow obstruction as assessed with SLDT and FRAP techniques.
The findings provide a theoretical rationale for using Cx43 antagonists and gap junction inhibitors in the treatment of patients with over-active detrusor secondary to partial bladder outflow obstruction.
