Introduction: Obstructive bladder dysfunction is directly related to ischemia/reperfusion injury characterized by damage to nerves, synapses and smooth muscle cells within the bladder wall. Antrodia Camphorata (AC) has significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory and cell-cycle inhibition properties. The specific aim of this study was to evaluate whether orally administered AC can protect rabbit bladders from the progressive dysfunctions induced by bilateral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).
Methods: Twenty-four male NZW rabbits were separated into 4 groups of 6 animals each. Rabbits in groups 1 and 2 were fed Antrodia Camphorata (AC) suspensions; those in groups 3 and 4 received vehicle. Each rabbit in groups 2 and 4 were subjected to in vivo bilateral ischemia for 2 h and then allowed to recover for 1 week. The rabbits in groups 1 and 3 received sham operation and served as control groups. Cystometry, contractile responses to field stimulation, carbachol, ATP and KCl were determined. Biochemical and immuno-histochemical studies were also performed.
Results: I/R resulted in decreased compliance, decreased contractile responses, decreased nerve density, and increased apoptosis. AC pretreatment of rabbits subjected to I/R significantly protected the bladder from all contractile, biochemical, and structural dysfunctions resulting in significantly improved bladder.