Expression of bladder α(1)-adrenoceptor subtype after relief of partial bladder outlet obstruction in a rat model

PURPOSE: Many patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia require treatment for persistent storage symptoms, even when the obstruction is successfully relieved by surgery. Previous studies identified a characteristic increase in α(1D)-adrenoceptor levels in the bladder in a bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) model. Here, we investigated the expression of α(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the bladder after relief of partial BOO (pBOO) in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (sham-operated, pBOO, and pBOO relief groups), and the expression of α(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the urothelium and detrusor muscle tissues was examined by western blot. RESULTS: The expression of the α(1D)-adrenoceptor was significantly higher in the urothelium and detrusor muscle tissue of the pBOO and pBOO relief groups than in the corresponding tissue of the sham-operated group. Additionally, the α(1A)-adrenoceptor was predominant in the sham-operated group but significantly decreased in the urothelium in the pBOO group. No significant differences were found in α(1A)-adrenoceptor levels in detrusor muscle or whole bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that α(1D)-adrenoceptor levels were consistently increased with pBOO, even after relief, suggesting that the α(1D)-adrenoceptor might be a cause of persistent storage symptoms after relief of pBOO.