Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.49(7) > 1005146

Ihm, Chung, and Song: Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) in Rat Bladders Subjected to Short-term Partial Outlet Obstruction

Abstract

Purpose

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an important enzyme in the production of nitric oxide (NO). The constitutive type (cNOS) is expressed in the normal physiologic state, and the inducible type (iNOS) in expressed in the active immune state. cNOS is divided into an endothelial type (eNOS) and a neuronal type (nNOS). eNOS affects blood vessels, while nNOS affects nerve fibers. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of eNOS and nNOS in rat bladders with short-term partial outlet obstructions. We presupposed that NO is responsible for prolonged micturition problems after partial outlet obstruction.

Materials and Methods

Specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300g were used for the study. Individual bladders were obtained from sham-operated control rats (n=5) and from experimental rats at 12 hours and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after partial urethral obstruction (n=25). eNOS and nNOS were detected using immunochemical staining and analyzed with confocal microscopy and an image analyzer.

Results

eNOS and nNOS expression were detected in both the control group and in the group with partial outlet obstruction. The expression of eNOS showed a sharp increase at 3 days after obstruction and returned to normal at 7 days. The expression of nNOS was not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

In this study, we showed that eNOS increases in the rat bladder after partial outlet obstruction. This finding suggests that overproduction of NO may be the result of ischemic injury sustained during partial bladder outlet obstruction.

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Fig. 1.
Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (red, Texas Red goat anti-rabbit antibody, 1:200) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) (green, anti-mouse IgG FITC, 1:200) (x400). (A) Control, (B) 12 hours after partial bladder outlet obstruction, (C) 3 days after partial bladder outlet obstruction, (D) 7 days after partial bladder outlet obstruction.
kju-49-622f1.tif
Table 1.
Changes in bladder weights
Bladder weights (mg)
Control Partial bladder outlet obstruction
12 hours 112.4±4.8 115.6±3.6
1 day 117.7±5.5 118.2±4.3
2 days 116.4±4.8 134.6±2.6
3 days 115.3±4.6 158.7±11.4
7 days 115.7±3.2 477.2±23.6*

* : p<0.05

Table 2.
Changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression
Gray scale of endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Control Partial bladder outlet obstruction
12 hours 66.40±2.82 45.80±2.35
1 day 64.32±1.44 67.60±2.35
2 days 54.36±1.65 69.56±5.88
3 days 55.08±2.36 82.44±4.95*
7 days 55.87±2.07 65.67±5.46

* : p<0.05

Table 3.
Changes in neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression
Gray scale of neuronal nitric oxide synthase
Control Partial bladder outlet obstruction
12 hours 37.45±1.21 35.10±0.91
1 day 35.09±1.84 37.60±1.96
2 days 35.56±2.25 45.38±3.45
3 days 36.40±1.24 43.30±2.45
7 days 37.32±2.31 43.90±1.07
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