Effect of the Renin-Angiotensin System on the Obstructed Bladder.

Bladder hypertrophy and dysfunction are well-known bladder responses to outlet obstruction (i.e. urodynamic overload).

Involvement of angiotensin II type 1 receptor on pathological remodeling and dysfunction in obstructed bladder.

Objectives: To determine whether long-term administration of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist improves morphology and function in obstructed bladders.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgery to produce bladder outlet obstruction (bladder outlet obstruction group; n = 32) or sham surgery (sham group; n = 16). A total of 2 weeks later, 16 bladder outlet obstruction-rats were given the AT1 antagonist, candesartan, subcutaneously (candesartan group) using an osmotic pump for 4 weeks; the remaining bladder outlet obstruction-rats received vehicle (bladder outlet obstruction group).