Abstract

AIMS:

It has been suggested that beta(3)-adrenoceptor (beta(3)-AR) agonists affect not only the efferent but also the afferent pathways innervating the bladder. In addition, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) causes bladder hyperactivity in conscious rats. We investigated the direct effects of a beta(3)-AR agonist (CL316,243; CL) and PGE(2) on single fiber activities of the primary bladder afferent nerves.

METHODS:

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Under urethane anesthesia, a single nerve fiber primarily originating from the bladder was identified by electrical stimulation of the left pelvic nerve and by bladder distention, and was divided by conduction velocity (2.5 m/sec) as A delta-fiber or C-fiber. The afferent activity measurements with constant bladder filling were repeated three times and the third measurement served as the base-line observation. Then, CL (10 microg/kg) or its vehicle was administrated intravenously. Thereafter, 10(-4) M of PGE(2) or saline was instilled intravesically and another three cycles recorded.

RESULTS:

Forty-three single afferent fibers (A delta-fibers: n = 20, C-fibers: n = 23) were isolated from 34 rats. Intravenous administration of CL, but not vehicle, significantly decreased A delta-fiber, but not C-fiber, activities in response to bladder filling with saline. Intravesical instillation of PGE(2) significantly increased C-fiber activities, but not A delta-fiber activities. The PGE(2)-induced increase in C-fiber activities was inhibited by pretreatment with CL.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present results clearly demonstrate that the beta(3)-AR agonist, CL316,243, can inhibit the mechanosensitive A delta-fibers, but not the C-fibers, of the primary bladder afferents of the rat. In addition, the beta(3)-AR agonist can inhibit PGE(2)-induced C-fiber hyperactivity.

(c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.