Erschienen in:
01.11.2011 | Original Article
The effect of l-arginine on bladder dysfunction following ovariectomy in a rabbit model
verfasst von:
Shu-Mien Chuang, Yung-Shun Juan, Cheng-Yu Long, Chun-Hsiung Huang, Robert M. Levin, Keh-Min Liu
Erschienen in:
International Urogynecology Journal
|
Ausgabe 11/2011
Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten
Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nitric oxide precursor, l-arginine, on bladder function following ovariectomy.
Methods
Twenty-eight New Zealand white female rabbits were separated into seven groups. Groups 1 to 6 underwent ovariectomy surgery. Among them, groups 1 and 2 received ovariectomy without treating with l-arginine. Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were given high l-arginine diet and were sacrificed 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after ovariectomy, respectively. Group 7 served as the control group. The effects of l-arginine on the contractility of bladder tissues were determined in response to various stimulations. In addition, l-arginine effects on the expression of Rho kinase (ROK), protein kinase C potentiated inhibitor (CPI-17), caldesmon (CaD), and calponin (CaP) were studied by immunoblotting.
Results
Ovariectomy significantly decreases contractile response to all forms of stimulation. Feeding rabbits l-arginine significantly increases contractile response at 1 day following ovariectomy, but the response decreases to the control level by 14 days. Ovariectomy increases the expressions of both isoforms of CaD, CaP, and CPI-17; l-arginine treatment induces ROK underexpression, while CaP is overexpressed in the early few days of ovariectomy but returns to the control level at 2 weeks after ovariectomy.
Conclusions
Ovariectomy appreciably reduced bladder contractility. Treatment with l-arginine reversed the ovariectomy-induced bladder dysfunction. Decreased bladder contractile response was observed in the early days following ovariectomy.