Expression of nerve growth factor immunoreactivity and messenger RNA in ischemic urinary bladder

Aims: The bladder contractile dysfunction resulting from acute ischemia may be attributed to nerve growth factor(NGF) overexpression. This study was conducted to evaluate the acute and mid-term effects of bladder ischemiaon the temporal expression of NGF immunoreactivity and mRNA. Materials and Methods: Bladder ischemiawas induced by ligation of bilateral vesical arteries in female rats. We examined the NGF content of bladderdetrusor muscle at 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks after artery ligation. Immunoreactivity of NGF was studiedby immunofluorescent staining and Western blot. The NGF mRNA was analyzed by real-time polymerasechain reaction. Results: The immunofluorescence of NGF at 1 week and 4 weeks was significantly reducedwhen compared to sham-operated group (P < 0.05). This decreased tendency was also found in Western blot test.An increased expression of NGF mRNA was noted at 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks, but had no significant changewhen compared to sham-operated group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed bilateral vesical arteryligation may cause damage of detrusor muscle and there is decreased NGF immunofluorescence and elevatedNGF mRNA in bladder suggesting an expression disparity following ischemia. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:512-516,2010.