Qian Liu - Clinical Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
Xiaodong Li - Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
Jingzhen Zhu - Department of Urology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
Bishao Sun - Department of Urology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
Shadan Li - Department of Urology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China

Objective(s): To investigate the potential of Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).Materials and Methods: Sixty-four female rats were randomly assigned to the control and cyclophosphamide (CYP) groups. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was utilized to detect the mRNA level of TrkA. Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-۶, and TrkA. Immunostaining was used to detect the expression of TrkA in bladder sections. Contractility studies and urodynamic measurements were utilized to test the spontaneous contractions of detrusor muscle strips and the global bladder activity, respectively.Results: Rat models of chronic cystitis were successfully established. The mRNA and protein levels of TrkA were significantly increased in the bladders of CYP-treated rats. Also, results of immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that increased TrkA expression in the CYP group was mainly observed in the urothelium layer and bladder interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICC-LCs) but not in the detrusor smooth muscle cells. The specific inhibitor of TrkA, GW۴۴۱۷۵۶ (۱۰ μM), significantly suppressed the robust spontaneous contractions of detrusor muscle strips in the CYP group and alleviated the overall bladder overactivity of CYP-treated rats. However, the inhibitory effects of GW۴۴۱۷۵۶ (۱۰ μM) on the spontaneous contractions of detrusor muscle strips and the overall bladder activity were eliminated after pretreatments with the specific blocker of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, ZD۷۲۸۸ (۵۰ μM).Conclusion: Our results suggested that increased TrkA expression during chronic cystitis promotes the development of bladder overactivity by targeting the HCN channels.

Cyclophosphamide, Cystitis, Hyperpolarization-activated-cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, Tropomyosin receptor-kinase A, Urinary bladder