Expression of components of the urothelial cholinergic system in bladder and cultivated primary urothelial cells of the pig.

Background: Porcine urinary bladders are widely used for uro-pharmacological examinations due to their resemblance to the human organ. However, characterisations of the porcine urothelium at the molecular level are scarce up to now. As it has become clear over the last years that this tissue plays an important role in the signaling-pathways of the bladder, we examined whether the transporter and receptor pattern (with focus on the transmitter acetylcholine) is comparable to the human urothelium.

The role of the efflux carriers Abcg2 and Abcc2 for the hepatobiliary elimination of benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites in mice.

The ATP-binding cassette transporters Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (Abcg2) and Multidrug Resistance-associated Protein 2 (Abcc2) play an important role for the hepatobiliary elimination of drugs and toxins as well as their metabolites. Previous in vitro transport studies showed that both transporters are involved in the active efflux of phase II metabolites of carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene (BP), however the role of these carriers in hepatobiliary elimination in vivo is still unknown. In the present study, Abcg2(-/-) and Abcc2(-/-) knockout mice were used to elucidate the role of Abcg2 and Abcc2 for the hepatobiliary excretion of BP and its metabolites.

Brain penetration of the OAB drug trospium chloride is not increased in aged mice.

Purpose: To analyse whether the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to the antimuscarinic drug trospium chloride is altered with ageing. This is a relevant question for elderly patients with overactive bladder syndrome who are treated with trospium chloride as the occurrence of adverse effects on the central nervous system (CNS) highly depends on the absolute drug concentration in the brain.

Methods: Trospium chloride at 1 mg/kg was intravenously administered to adult, middle-aged, and aged mice at 6, 12, and 24 months of age, respectively, and the absolute drug concentrations in the brain were analysed after 2 h.