Abstract
Purpose: We investigated the effects of intrathecal application of nerve growth factor (NGF) antibodies (NGF-Abs) and desensitization of C-fiber afferent pathways by capsaicin treatment on detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Materials and Methods: In adult female rats SCI was induced by complete transection of the spinal cord at Th8 to 9. Ten days after spinalization vehicle or NGF-Ab (10 μg daily) was continuously administered at the level of the L6-S1 spinal cord through an implanted intrathecal catheter connected to an osmotic pump for 2 weeks. Another group of spinalized rats was treated with capsaicin (125 mg/kg subcutaneously) 3 weeks after spinalization and 5 days before experiments. Simultaneous recordings of intravesical pressure and urethral perfusion pressure were then performed. NGF levels in the L6 spinal cord were measured in vehicle or NGF-Ab treated spinalized rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: DSD was observed in all vehicle treated spinalized rats. The average urethral pressure increase at the peak bladder contraction was significantly lower by 84% and 78% in NGF-Ab and capsaicin treated spinalized rats, respectively, than in vehicle treated rats. After NGF-Ab treatment NGF levels were significantly decreased by 38% in the L6 spinal cord compared with vehicle treated spinalized rats, in which NGF levels in the L6 spinal cord were 7 times higher than in spinal intact rats. Conclusions: Increased levels of NGF in the spinal cord could contribute to the emergence of DSD that is at least in part mediated by C-fiber bladder afferents after SCI. Thus suppression of NGF levels in afferent pathways could be useful for treating DSD following SCI.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 478-482 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Urology |
Volume | 171 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2004 |
Keywords
- Bladder
- Nerve growth factor
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Spinal cord injuries
- Urethra
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology