Subcutaneous B16 melanoma impairs intrinsic pressure generation and relaxation of the heart, which are not restored by short-term voluntary exercise in mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether subcutaneous melanoma impairs intrinsic cardiac function and hypoxia tolerance in mice. In addition, it was investigated whether these changes could be prevented by voluntary wheel-running exercise. The roles of different molecular pathways were also analyzed.

The Translational Role of Animal Models for Estrogen-Related Functional Bladder Outlet Obstruction and Prostatic Inflammation.

The prevalence of LUTS and prostatic diseases increases with age both in humans and companion animals, suggesting that a common underlying cause of these conditions may be age-associated alterations in the balance of sex hormones. The symptoms are present with different and variable micturition dysfunctions and can be assigned to different clinical conditions including bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). LUTS may also be linked to chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), but the relationship between these conditions is unknown.

Short-term exercise affects cardiac function ex vivo partially via changes in calcium channel levels, without influencing hypoxia sensitivity.

Exercise is known to improve cardiac recovery following coronary occlusion. However, whether short-term exercise can improve cardiac function and hypoxia tolerance ex vivo independent of reperfusion injury and the possible role of calcium channels in improved hypoxia tolerance remains unknown. Therefore, in the current study, heart function was measured ex vivo using the Langendorff method at different oxygen levels after a 4-week voluntary wheel-running regimen in trained and untrained male mice (C57Bl/6NCrl).

Characterization a model of prostatic diseases and obstructive voiding induced by sex hormone imbalance in the Wistar and Noble rats.

Background: Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is a prevalent condition in men. One potential pathophysiological factor is change in sex hormone, testosterone and estrogen, balance. Inflammation, cancer and obstructive voiding has been induced in the Noble rat strain by altering levels of sex hormones.

Intravesical treatment with cis-urocanic acid improves bladder function in rat model of acute bladder inflammation.

Aims: The aim was to study the effect of intravesically instilled cis-urocanic acid (cis-UCA) on bladder function in an experimental rat model of acute bladder inflammation. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was used as a comparator compound.

Methods: Bladder irritation was induced in female rats by intravesical hydrochloric acid (HCl) infusion.

Potentiation of Glibenclamide Hypoglycaemia in Mice by MK-467, a Peripherally Acting Alpha2-Adrenoceptor Antagonist.

Pharmacological antagonism and genetic depletion of pancreatic α2A-adrenoceptors increase insulin secretion in mice and enhance the insulinotropic action of glibenclamide, a representative of the sulphonylurea class of insulin secretagogues used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes. Antagonism of α2-adrenoceptors in the central nervous system (CNS) causes tachycardia and hypertension, making generalized α2-adrenoceptor blockade unfavourable for clinical use despite its potential to decrease blood glucose levels. The purpose of this study was to test the acute effects of the peripherally acting α2-adrenoceptor antagonist MK-467 alone and in combination with glibenclamide in non-diabetic C57BL/6N mice.

Comparison of simultaneous measurement of mouse locomotor activity by radiotelemetry and photobeam methods.

Introduction: Locomotor activity recordings are widely used in different physiological and pharmacological studies. There are two mainly used methods - radiotelemetry and photobeam recording systems. To our knowledge, these methods have not previously been directly and simultaneously compared.

Is there a peripheral site of action contributing to the voiding effects of α₂-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists?

Purpose: Since it has not been established whether there is an effect on voiding exerted by direct stimulation or blockade of α2-adrenoceptors in the bladder and urethra, MK-467, a peripherally acting α2-adrenoceptor antagonist not penetrating into the CNS, was used to test whether part of the voiding effects of systemically given α2-adrenoceptor agonists is peripheral.

Methods: Urodynamic recordings from 27 conscious male adult C57/Bl J-strain mice were performed. After vehicle (saline) administration, two groups of animals were treated first with the selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine (Dex) and then with the selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonists atipamezole (Ati) or MK-467.

Hemodynamic actions and mechanisms of systemically administered α-MSH analogs in mice.

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) regulates important physiological functions including energy homeostasis and inflammation. Potent analogs of α-MSH, [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]-α-MSH (NDP-α-MSH) and melanotan-II (MT-II), are widely used in pharmacological studies, but the hemodynamic effects associated with their systemic administration have not been thoroughly examined. Therefore, we investigated the hemodynamic actions of these compounds in anesthetized and conscious C57Bl/6N mice using peripheral routes of administration.

Effects on bladder function of combining elocalcitol and tolterodine in rats with outflow obstruction.

Unlabelled: It has previously been shown that elocalcitol might protect bladder contractile function in experimental models and that elocalcitol has beneficial effects in patients with LUTS. In humans, elocalcitol was demonstrated with a very good safety profile but only exhibited limited efficacy on LUTS in patients with BPH and overactive bladder (OAB). Recent reports show that therapies with antimuscarinics, when combined with other drugs in clinical use, might perform better than a monotherapy in managing LUTS.

Cannabinor, a selective cannabinoid-2 receptor agonist, improves bladder emptying in rats with partial urethral obstruction.

Purpose: We studied the effects of chronic treatment with the novel selective cannabinoid 2 receptor agonist cannabinor (Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati, Ohio) on bladder function in conscious rats with partial urethral obstruction and on the functional properties of isolated detrusor muscle.

Materials And Methods: A total of 24 female Sprague-Dawley® rats with surgically created partial urethral obstruction received daily intraperitoneal injections of 3 mg/kg cannabinor (12) or saline as controls (12) for 2 weeks. Cystometry was done, the rats were sacrificed and the bladders were prepared for in vitro studies.

TRPA1 receptor induced relaxation of the human urethra involves TRPV1 and cannabinoid receptor mediated signals, and cyclooxygenase activation.

Purpose: We studied whether TRPA1 agonists interact with sensory and inflammatory signals to relax human urethral smooth muscle.

Materials And Methods: Urethral specimens were obtained perioperatively from 19 patients, and prepared for immunohistochemistry and functional experiments. The effects of allyl isothiocyanate, cinnamaldehyde and NaHS were studied in phenylephrine activated preparations combined with capsaicin, capsazepine, N omega-nitro-L-arginine, indomethacin or CP55940.

Effects of cannabinor, a novel selective cannabinoid 2 receptor agonist, on bladder function in normal rats.

Background: Cannabinoid (CB) receptors may be involved in the control of bladder function; the role of CB receptor subtypes in micturition has not been established.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cannabinor, a novel CB2 receptor agonist, on rat bladder function.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Sprague Dawley rats were used.

Voiding effects mediated by α2-adrenoceptors in the anaesthetized male rat.

Objective: To study the role of α(2)-adrenoceptors (α(2)-AR) in micturition of anaesthetized male rats, with specific focus on the effects on the electrical activity (by electromyography, EMG) of the rhabdosphincter, and actual urinary flow rate, as the effects mediated by α(2)-ARs on sphincter activity and urethral pressures have not been established.

Materials And Methods: Adult anaesthetized male Noble rats were used; intravesical pressure, rhabdosphincter EMG and urinary flow rate from the distal urethra were recorded. After baseline recordings, an α(2)-AR agonist (dexmedetomidine, DEX) or α(2)-AR antagonist (atipamezole), were injected intravenously.

Distribution and function of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 in the rat, monkey and human bladder.

Purpose: We investigated the distribution of cannabinoid receptor subtypes 1 and 2 in the detrusor of different species and studied the effects of cannabinoid receptor 1 and 2 agonists on bladder function.

Materials And Methods: Cannabinoid receptor 1 and 2 expression was studied with Western blot and immunohistochemistry in rat, monkey and human detrusors. Co-staining was done for markers of sensory nerves using calcitonin gene-related peptide (Euro-Diagnostica, Malmö, Sweden) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, and for cholinergic nerves using VAChT (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, California).

Human HSD17B1 expression masculinizes transgenic female mice.

When present in excess amounts during fetal life, androgens can impair female development by inducing masculinization. On way to modify fetal steroid concentration is by altering the expression of hydroxysteroid (17beta) dehydrogenases (HSD17Bs). Human HSD17B1 converts weak estrogen estrone to estradiol, and with lower catalytic efficiency, weak androgen androstenedione to testosterone.

Prostatic inflammation and obstructive voiding in the adult Noble rat: impact of the testosterone to estradiol ratio in serum.

Background: The age-related decline of the testosterone to estradiol (T-to-E(2)) ratio in serum is associated with the increased prevalence of prostatic inflammation and lower urinary tract symptoms suggesting obstructive voiding. The impact of the T-to-E(2) ratio on the development and reversal of non-bacterial prostatic inflammation and obstructive voiding was tested in adult Noble rats.

Methods: Adult male Noble rats (n = 16) were treated with estradiol (83 microg/day) and two different doses (280 and 830 microg/day) of testosterone to cause hypoandrogenic and hyperandrogenic states with elevated estrogen.

Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) activity in the human urethra--evidence for a functional role for TRPA1 in the outflow region.

Background: A role for the transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 ion channel in rat lower urinary tract (LUT) sensation and disease has been proposed, but in the human LUT no information on TRPA1 activity is available.

Objectives: To investigate the distribution of TRPA1 in the human urethra and to study the effect of TRPA1 agonists on isolated urethral strip preparations.

Design, Settings, And Participants: Urethral specimens were obtained preoperatively from 10 patients and were freshly prepared for Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and functional in vitro investigations.

Distribution and function of the hydrogen sulfide-sensitive TRPA1 ion channel in rat urinary bladder.

Objectives: To investigate the distribution of the transient receptor potential (TRP) A1 ion channel in the rat urinary bladder, and to study the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and known TRPA1 activators on micturition in conscious rats and on heterologously expressed ion channels.

Methods: The expression of TRPA1 in urinary bladder was studied with fluorescence immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Cystometric investigations were performed in conscious animals subjected to intravesical administration of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS, donor of H(2)S), allyl isothiocyanate (AI), and cinnamaldehyde (CA).

Simultaneous registration of intraabdominal and intravesical pressures during cystometry in conscious rats--effects of bladder outlet obstruction and intravesical PGE2.

Aims: A method was developed and evaluated to simultaneously register intraabdominal pressure (IAP) and intravesical pressure (IVP) during cystometry in conscious rats. In addition, IAP and IVP were recorded in rats with experimental detrusor overactivity (DO).

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were used.

Effects of tolterodine on afferent neurotransmission in normal and resiniferatoxin treated conscious rats.

Purpose: The beneficial effects of antimuscarinics on detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder syndrome are exerted during bladder filling, when there is no parasympathetic outflow from the spinal cord. We tested the hypothesis that, if tolterodine exerts some of its effects on afferent nerves, the functional elimination of C-fiber afferents should affect the actions of the drug on urodynamic parameters.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in normal female Sprague Dawley rats and rats treated with resiniferatoxin to eliminate vanilloid sensitive afferent nerves.

The soy effect in the disease models of nonbacterial prostatitis and obstructive voiding.

The goal of this study was to improve the understanding of the potential significance of dietary soy for human health by investigating its effects in the animal models of nonbacterial prostatitis and urethral obstruction. Nonbacterial prostatitis was induced in adult Noble rats with the combined treatment of testosterone and 17beta-estradiol. The inflammatory foci categorized into three forms were counted and correlated with expression of an estrogen-responsive gene, progesterone receptor (PR), in the dorsolateral lobes of the rats on soy (+) and soy (-) diets.

Urodynamic changes in a noble rat model for nonbacterial prostatic inflammation.

Background: Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CP) associated with voiding dysfunction is a poorly understood clinical phenomenon. The goal of the present study was to induce prostatic inflammation with estrogen and androgen treatment and to record associated urodynamic changes in Noble rats.

Methods: Rats were treated with estradiol and testosterone implants to increase estradiol concentration in serum while testosterone concentration was maintained at or slightly above the control level.

Phasic non-micturition contractions in the bladder of the anaesthetized and awake rat.

Objective: To characterize the contractile activity that occurs in the bladder during the filling phase of the micturition cycle (non-micturition contractions, NMCs), which generate transient rises in intravesical pressure not associated with urine flow.

Materials And Methods: The experiments were conducted using anaesthetized (chloral hydrate) and un-anaesthetized rats. In un-anaesthetized rats bladder contractile activity was measured using an intravesical cannula implanted under full surgical anaesthesia 3 days previously.

Division of the male rat rhabdosphincter into structurally and functionally differentiated parts.

In order to understand the structure-function relationship in the male rat rhabdosphincter, the 3D structure of the striated muscle and associated dense connective tissue was reconstructed from representative serial sections cut from the proximal urethra harboring the muscle. The 3D structure was correlated with electromyography (EMG) of the rhabdosphincter, urodynamic parameters (bladder pressure and flow rate), and longitudinal contraction force of the proximal urethra. The muscular component of the rhabdosphincter consisted of a homogeneous population of the fast-twitch-type fibers.