Mucosal modulation of contractility in bladder strips from normal and overactive rat models and the effect of botulinum toxin A on overactive bladder strips.

Aims: To investigate the local, regulatory role of the mucosa on bladder strip contractility from normal and overactive bladders and to examine the effect of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A).

Methods: Bladder strips from spontaneously hyperactive rat (SHR) or normal rats (Sprague Dawley, SD) were dissected for myography as intact or mucosa-free preparations. Spontaneous, neurogenic and agonist-evoked contractions were investigated.

GABAergic control of arteriolar diameter in the rat retina.

Purpose: To investigate the role of γ-aminobutryic acid (GABA) in the regulation of arteriolar diameter in the rat retina.

Methods: The actions of GABA on arteriolar diameter were examined using ex vivo retinal whole-mount preparations and isolated vessel segments. In most experiments, arterioles were partially preconstricted with endothelin (Et)-1.

Identification of PDGFRα positive populations of interstitial cells in human and guinea pig bladders.

Purpose: The bladder wall comprises a complex array of cells, including urothelium, smooth muscle, nerves and interstitial cells. Interstitial cells have several subtypes based on site, morphology and differential expression of markers such as anti-vimentin and anti-KIT. We examined whether a subpopulation of interstitial cells immunopositive for PDGFRα exists in human and guinea pig bladders.

Nucleotide regulation of the voltage-dependent nonselective cation conductance in murine colonic myocytes.

ATP is proposed to be a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, causing hyperpolarization and smooth muscle relaxation. ATP activates small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels that are involved in setting the resting membrane potential and causing inhibitory junction potentials. No reports are available examining the effects of ATP on voltage-dependent inward currents in GI smooth muscle cells.