The Value and Limitations of Intravesical Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced Bladder Hyperactivity as an Overactive Bladder Model in Normal, Conscious Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Purpose: Establishing an appropriate animal model is essential for investigating the yet unknown mechanisms of overactive bladder (OAB). Prostanoids are an already well known intrinsic cause of overactive bladder in both animal and human. Awake animal models with prostanoids are already being used as an OAB model, but there is no standardization of methods, and especially for the concentration of the administrated prostanoids. So in this study, we tried to objectively establish the standardized concentration of prostanoids and its effect on urination through urodynamic studies with using non-anesthetized Dawley rats. Meterials and Methods: We divided 18 female rats (215-280g) into 3 groups of six rats each and we injected 30μM, 50μM or 100μM of PGE2, respectively. A catheter was placed inside the bladder through an incision in the abdominal wall. After three days, cystometry was performed with the arts in an awake state. During cystometry, we administrated saline into the bladder to identify the usual voiding status of the rat. In comparison, the saline with PGE2 at 3 different concentrations (30, 50, 100μM) was administrated into the bladder (10ml/h). Results: Each group of the 30, 50, 100μM PGE2 administered rats showed an increased level of the basal pressure, the threshold pressure and the maximal pressure compared to the state before administration of PGE2. Also, the bladder capacity, voided volume and micturition interval decreased by a statistically acceptable amount, like was seen in the OAB model. There was a trend that showed a greater increase in the pressure parameters and a greater decrease in the volume parameters in the 50μM PGE2 group compared to the 30μM PGE2 group, but there were no differences between the 50μM and 100μM groups. Conclusions: In the normal awake rats, PGE2 induced overactive bladder to a statistically significant amount for all concentrations (30, 50, 100μM). Among these groups, the concentration of 50μM provoked OAB most effectively, and the higher concentration of PGE2 (100μM) did not provoke a more efficient OAB, which might have been due to the characteristics of the intrinsic material in the bladders. Thus, we recommend PGE2 50μM for efficient induction of OAB. (Korean J Urol 2008;49:526-532) 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏