OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether electroacupuncture(EA)therapy for overactive bladder(OAB)exerts its effect by modulating mechanosensitive channels in the urothelium,thereby improving bladder sensory function.METHODS:...OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether electroacupuncture(EA)therapy for overactive bladder(OAB)exerts its effect by modulating mechanosensitive channels in the urothelium,thereby improving bladder sensory function.METHODS:In this study,a rat model of OAB was created by using intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide.We performed either EA or bladder perfusion with HC-067047[a transient receptor potential vanilloid 4(TRPV4)antagonist]and assessed the efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of OAB in rats via urodynamic determination and Void spot assay.tissue morphology,distribution and expression of the TRPV4protein and the amount of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and Ca2+released from urothelial cells in each group of rats were observed to identify the mechanism by which electroacupuncture improves OAB in rats.RESULTS:EA ameliorated bladder function and voiding behaviour,improved bladder uroepithelial tissue morphology,and significantly reduced the immunofluorescence intensity and the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPV4 in the uroepithelium of OAB rats.Moreover,the simulated mechanical stimulationinduced increases in Ca^(2+)concentration and the release of ATP and acetylcholine(Ach)from bladder urothelial cells were inhibited.The changes in EA followed the same trend as those in HC-067047.CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that EA inhibits bladder sensory function by downregulating the expression of mechanically activated TRPV4 ion channels distributed in bladder urothelial cells,which correspondingly decreases the inward flow of extracellular Ca^(2+)and reduces the release of ATP and Ach,thereby attenuating excitatory signals.展开更多
基金Natural Science Foundation-funded Project:Research on the Effect of Acupuncture in Regulating Bladder Excitability based on the Generation and Transmission of Afferent Information from Urinary Control(No.82174516)Investigation into the Mechanism of Acupuncture-regulated Bladder Excitability based on Sensory Nerve Mechanotransduction Signaling(No.82474645)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether electroacupuncture(EA)therapy for overactive bladder(OAB)exerts its effect by modulating mechanosensitive channels in the urothelium,thereby improving bladder sensory function.METHODS:In this study,a rat model of OAB was created by using intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide.We performed either EA or bladder perfusion with HC-067047[a transient receptor potential vanilloid 4(TRPV4)antagonist]and assessed the efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of OAB in rats via urodynamic determination and Void spot assay.tissue morphology,distribution and expression of the TRPV4protein and the amount of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and Ca2+released from urothelial cells in each group of rats were observed to identify the mechanism by which electroacupuncture improves OAB in rats.RESULTS:EA ameliorated bladder function and voiding behaviour,improved bladder uroepithelial tissue morphology,and significantly reduced the immunofluorescence intensity and the mRNA and protein expression levels of TRPV4 in the uroepithelium of OAB rats.Moreover,the simulated mechanical stimulationinduced increases in Ca^(2+)concentration and the release of ATP and acetylcholine(Ach)from bladder urothelial cells were inhibited.The changes in EA followed the same trend as those in HC-067047.CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that EA inhibits bladder sensory function by downregulating the expression of mechanically activated TRPV4 ion channels distributed in bladder urothelial cells,which correspondingly decreases the inward flow of extracellular Ca^(2+)and reduces the release of ATP and Ach,thereby attenuating excitatory signals.
