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Modulation of afferent nerve activity by prostaglandin E 2 upon urinary bladder distension in rats
Author(s) -
Kuga Nahoko,
Tanioka Asao,
Hagihara Koichiro,
Kawai Tomoyuki
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/ep085418
Subject(s) - distension , overactive bladder , urinary bladder , afferent , population , chemistry , tetrodotoxin , endocrinology , prostaglandin , medicine , pathological , urinary system , urology , anatomy , pathology , alternative medicine , environmental health
New FindingsWhat is the central question of this study? It has been widely assumed that C fibres innervating the bladder are mainly excited in overactive bladder syndrome. However, it remains unclear whether Aδ fibres are also activated in pathological conditions.What is the main finding and its importance? We found that a certain population of Aδ fibres, which become active specifically at a bladder pressure of more than 15 cmH 2 O in normal conditions, showed increased excitability in conditions of prostaglandin E 2 ‐induced overactive bladder. This result suggests that a certain population of Aδ fibres, together with C fibres, triggers pathophysiological activity.In overactive bladder syndrome, afferent C fibres innervating the bladder show an increased activity level. However, it remains unclear whether all C fibres are highly activated and whether Aδ fibres, the other type of bladder afferent fibre, are also involved in pathological conditions. To address these questions, we analysed the relationship between bladder pressure and single‐unit firing patterns of afferent nerves in the left L6 dorsal roots in living rats. The recorded fibres were classified as Aδ fibres or C fibres based on the response to 0.3 μ m tetrodotoxin. Certain populations of both Aδ fibres and C fibres were activated at bladder pressures below 15 cmH 2 O (classified as low‐threshold fibres), indicating their potential contribution to detection of normal bladder filling. Intravesical administration of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) induced hyperexcitation in approximately half of such C fibres, whereas the activity patterns of low‐threshold Aδ fibres were unchanged. All fibres, regardless of type, which were almost silent in control conditions (classified as high‐threshold fibres), were activated by application of PGE 2 . Notably, the firing patterns of Aδ fibres, rather than C fibres, were highly time locked to PGE 2 ‐induced micro‐oscillation of bladder pressure. These modulatory effects of PGE 2 on Aδ fibres and C fibres might trigger pathophysiological activity together in overactive bladder syndrome.