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Dystrophin is expressed in smooth muscle and afferent nerve fibers in the rat urinary bladder
Author(s) -
Lionarons Judith M.,
Hoogland Govert,
Hendriksen Ruben G. F.,
Faber Catharina G.,
Hellebrekers Danique M. J.,
Van Koeveringe Gommert A.,
Schipper Sandra,
Vles Johan S. H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26518
Subject(s) - dystrophin , urination , urinary bladder , colocalization , duchenne muscular dystrophy , utrophin , muscular dystrophy , urothelium , immunohistochemistry , anatomy , biology , medicine , urinary system , pathology , endocrinology , neuroscience
With increasing life expectancy, comorbidities become overt in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Although micturition problems are common, bladder function is poorly understood in DMD. We studied dystrophin expression and multiple isoform involvement in the bladder during maturation to gain insights into their roles in micturition. Methods Dystrophin distribution was evaluated in rat bladders by immunohistochemical colocalization with smooth muscle, interstitial, urothelial, and neuronal markers. Protein levels of Dp140, Dp71, and smooth muscle were quantitated by Western blotting of neonatal to adult rat bladders. Results Dystrophin colocalized with smooth muscle cells and afferent nerve fibers. Dp71 was expressed two‐ to threefold higher compared with Dp140, independently of age. Age‐related muscle mass changes did not influence isoform expression levels. Discussion Dystrophin is expressed in smooth muscle cells and afferent nerve fibers in the urinary bladder, which underscores that micturition problems in DMD may have not solely a myogenic but also a neurogenic origin. Muscle Nerve 60 : 202–210, 2019