Abstract
Objective: We investigated the existence and regional distribution of sphingosine-1-phosphate regulatory enzymes and receptors in the lower urinary tract and determined the functional role of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors in the bladder. Study Design: Lower urinary tract tissue from 10 female rats was harvested for real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or organ bath physiology, whereas blood serum was obtained for high-performance liquid chromatography determination of sphingosine-1-phosphate levels. Statistical analysis included the Student t test and analysis of variance. Results: All 3 sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors and major enzymes were expressed throughout the lower urinary tract, but expression and physiologic force generation varied among regions. Sphingosine-1-phosphate was detected in serum. Conclusion: We provide novel data that the sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling pathway regulatory proteins exist throughout the female rat lower urinary tract, but that relative expression exhibits regional heterogeneity corresponding with lower urinary tract contractile response to sphingosine-1-phosphate. Our study suggests that sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling is important in the lower urinary tract and identifies this pathway as a possible target for altering bladder smooth muscle tone.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 576.e1-576.e7 |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology |
Volume | 200 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2009 |
Keywords
- G-protein-coupled receptor
- overactive bladder
- rho-kinase
- smooth muscle
- sphingosine-1-phosphate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology