OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of edaravone on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rat bladder. Increasing evidence has shown that I/R are major etiologic factors in the progression of bladder dysfunction induced by partial outlet obstruction, and that part of the damage is due to the generation of free radicals. Edaravone is a newly developed radical scavenging agent that has been used for protection against I/R injury in patients with cerebral infarction.

METHODS

Thirty-five adult male rats were divided into five groups. Groups 1 to 4 underwent 1 hour of ischemia followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. Groups 1 to 3 were treated with edaravone at 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg body weight and group 4 with saline. Group 5 consisted of age-matched control rats. In vivo ischemia was created by clamping the vesical arteries for 1 hour. Reperfusion was accomplished by removing the clips and also lasted for 1 hour. Edaravone or saline was administered into the femoral artery after reperfusion for 30 minutes. After reperfusion, the bladder was excised and separated. The responses to electrical field stimulation, carbachol, and KCl were recorded. Other materials were analyzed for malondialdehyde as a measure of lipid peroxidation.

RESULTS

Edaravone administration resulted in protection of the contractile responses to both field stimulation and carbachol, although the responses to KCl were not affected. I/R resulted in an increase in malondialdehyde, which was reduced to control levels by edaravone.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that edaravone has a potential protective effect against I/R-induced damage in the rat bladder.