Blebbistatin, a Myosin II Inhibitor, Exerts Antidepressant-Like Activity and Suppresses Detrusor Overactivity in an Animal Model of Depression Coexisting with Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) coexists with depression in women. Here, we assessed the effects of a 1-week treatment with blebbistatin, a myosin II inhibitor, on changes in behavior and detrusor overactivity (DO) symptoms induced by a 6-week administration of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA), with the aid of the forced swim test (FST), spontaneous locomotor activity test, and in vivo cystometric investigations in female Wistar rats. 13-cis-RA-induced depressive-like behavior and DO symptoms were associated with increased corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) level in the plasma, prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (Hp), Barrington’s nucleus (BN), and urinary bladder. Moreover, 13-cis-RA decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in plasma, PFC, Hp, and BN, while it increased BDNF and NGF levels in urinary bladder. Blebbistatin exerted antidepressant-like effect and attenuated changes in the cystometric parameters as well as the central and peripheral levels of CRF, BDNF, and NGF that were induced by 13-cis-RA, while it did not affect urine production, mean, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or heart rate. The results point to blebbistatin as a potential treatment option for OAB coexisting with depression.