Expressions of Uroplakins in the Mouse Urinary Bladder with Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis

Even though uroplakins (UPs) are believed to serve a strong protective barrier against toxic materials, cyclophosphamide (CP) causes extensive cystitis. We investigated the expression of UPs in the urothelium in CP induced mouse cystitis. A total of 27 ICR female mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg CP/kg. Nine CP-treated mice and 6 controls were sequentially killed at 12, 24, and 72 hr post injection. Extensive cystitis and an increased vesical weight were seen. These all peaked within 12 hr post injection and they tended to decrease thereafter. The level of all the UPs mRNA, the protein expressions of UP II and III on immunoblotting study, and the expression of UP III on immunolocalization study were maximally suppressed within 12 hr; this partially recovered at 24 hr, and this completely recovered at 72 hr post CP injection. In conclusion, CP reduced the expression of UPs. The reduction of the UPs mRNA and protein was time dependent, and this peaked within 12 hr after CP injection. However, the damage was rapidly repaired within 24 hr. This study demonstrates a dynamic process, an extensive reduction and rapid recovery, for the UPs expression of the mouse urinary bladder after CP injection.

Changes in the Expression of Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain mRNA following Partial Bladder Obstruction or Spinal Cord Injury in Rat: A Preliminary Study / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) isoform composition has been actively researched in a partial bladder obstruction (PBO) or spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Even though rat is an ideal animal for studying bladder physiology, there were very few reports about the changes of the SMMHC isoforms in the PBO or SCI injured bladder of rat. We developed two polymerrase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets to amplify the isoforms and we applied the primers to the PBO and SCI rat models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female rats had their bladder necks surgically obstructed or they were subjected to spinal cord injury. Six weeks after the event, the bladders were excised. The expression of the C-terminal (SM1 and SM2) and N-terminal (SM-A and SM-B) isoforms of SMMHC was analyzed by performing reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The control bladder showed only the SM-B isoform in the C-terminal. However, the bladder after SCI showed an increased SM-A to SM-B ratio. In case of PBO, the ratios were variable. A decreased SM1 expression was noted in the PBO and SCI groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our female rat models for PBO or SCI demonstrates changes in the expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms. We will apply this primer set for studying of rat muscular physiology in PBO or SCI model.

Evaluation of a Rapid Test for Detection of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in Female Commercial Sex Workers / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Purpose: The importance of laboratory screening tests for female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) has been well documented to reduce the prevalence of chlamydial complications. A rapid test has been one of the standard chlamydial tests performed in Korean health centers. Although the process of the rapid test is simple, the sensitivity is inconsistent. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of QuickVue chlamydial detection kits, which is one of the rapid tests, by comparing this assay to an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Materials and Methods: A total of 410 endo-cervical samples were consecutively collected in one health center. A rapid test was performed by using a QuickVue kit. Genomic DNA was extracted from cotton swabs. The cryptic plasmid of C. trachomatis from the genomic DNA was amplified by the PCR method. Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid test were 21%, 99%, 89% and 83%, respectively, based on the PCR results. Study of the serial dilutions of reference inclusion forming units (IFU) showed that the rapid test only detected chlamydial infections that had high counts of IFUs. Conclusions: The rapid test is not good enough to detect chlamydial infection in FCSWs. Instead, a gene amplification test should be used for detecting chlamydial infections in FCSWs.