Expression of bladder α1-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 alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor levels in the bladder in a bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) model. Here, we investigated the expression of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the bladder after relief of partial BOO (pB00) in a rat model. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (sham-operated, pB00, and pB00 relief groups), and the expression of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in the urothelium and detrusor muscle tissues was examined by western blot. Results: The expression of the alpha 1(D)-adrenoceptor was significantly higher in the urothelium and detrusor muscle tissue of the pB00 and pB00 relief groups than in the corresponding tissue of the sham-operated group. Additionally, the alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor was predominant in the sham-operated group but significantly decreased in the urothelium in the pB00 group. No significant differences were found in alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor levels in detrusor muscle or whole bladder. Conclusions: Our results showed that alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor levels were consistently increased with pB00, even after relief, suggesting that the alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor might be a cause of persistent storage symptoms after relief of pB00.