Sulforaphane improves voiding function via the preserving mitochondrial function in diabetic rats.

Background: Hyperglycemia evoked oxidative stress contributing to diabetes (DM)-induced voiding dysfunction. We explored whether antioxidant sulforaphane,a NF-E2-related nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf-2) activator, may ameliorate DM-induced bladder dysfunction.

Methods: DM was induced by streptozotocin and sulforaphanewas administered before DM induction.Bladder reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by an ultrasensitive chemiluminescence analyzer. Mitochondrial function index mitochondrial Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c, antioxidant defense Nrf-2/HO-1, endoplasmic reticulum stress marker ATF-6/CHOP, and caspase 3/PARP were evaluated by Western blot.

Results: DM increased Keap1 and reduced Nrf-2 expression, associated with increase of bladder ROS, mitochondrial Bax translocation, cytosolic cytochrome c release, ATF-6/CHOP, caspase-3/PARP in bladders which resulted in voiding dysfunction by increased intercontraction intervals and micturition duration. However, sulforaphanesignificantly increased nuclear Nrf-2/HO-1axis expression, decreased bladder ROS amount, mitochondrial Bax translocation, cytochrome c release, ATF-6/CHOP and caspase 3/PARP/apoptosis, thereby improved the voiding function by the shortened intercontraction intervals and micturition duration.

Conclusion: We suggest that sulforaphanevia activating Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling preserved mitochondrial function and suppressed DM-induced ROS, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and voiding dysfunction.