Does interstitial cystitis urine include possible factors effecting the nociceptive system of the spinal cord?

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the effect of interstitial cystitis (IC) urine on bladder layers and nociceptive centers in the spinal cord with determination of nerve growth factor (NGF), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and c-fos expressions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Female rats were instilled into the bladder IC urine (Group-IC), normal urine (Group-NU) and saline (Group-S). NGF, nNOS and c-fos activity were determined in the L6-S1 medulla spinalis with identification of mast cell and NGF activity on bladder layers.

RESULTS

There was more NGF expression cell density in the bladder wall that was determined immunohistochemically in control and IC urine instillation groups than Group-S. While there was no difference in nNOS, NGF and c-fos activity between spinal cord regions except the lateral dorsal horn of the L6 section, localization of activities was different in Group-IC.

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of the bladder wall and its nociceptive afferents after human urine instillation of some toxic compounds might be causative factors for IC. However, it is barely hard to conclude that different toxic compounds should be causative factors in IC urine in the pathogenesis of IC.