Effect of cerebrolysin on bladder function after spinal cord injury in female Wistar rats

A comprehensive visual report of urodynamic study in rats with spinal cord injury

Objectives

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most debilitating and expensive traumatic conditions. Chronic complications after SCI have a particularly negative impact on patients' functional independence and quality of life. Urodynamic study (UDS) provides a quantitative assessment of lower urinary tract function in these patients. In many fields, animal models are considered a precursor to clinical trials, so research using laboratory animals play a major role in knowledge acquisition.

Materials and methods

Twelve female Wistar rats (13 weeks old, 220-270 g) were divided randomly into 2 groups: sham or SCI. The sham-operated group underwent a laminectomy at T9-T10 without any spinal cord damage, while the SCI group underwent a complete transection at the T9-T10 vertebral level. We performed cystometry in all animals at the end of the fourth week. In this article, we visualize all procedures for catheter implementation and UDS in animals for the first time at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, using a locally developed animal UDS device.

Results

The UDS results showed that the bladders in the SCI group were overactive and that peak and baseline pressures increased significantly in rats with SCI when compared with the sham group (p < 0.05 for all). Conversely, significant reductions in bladder compliance and intercontraction interval were observed in the SCI group (p < 0.05 for both).

Conclusions

This comprehensive visual report will be very useful to all researchers in the field of urology. Furthermore, the measurable variables of the UDS device have been described in this study.

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Improved Functional Outcomes Following Spinal Cord Injury Concomitantly with Neuroblast Regeneration

Purpose

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that resulted in irreversible neuronal loss, glial scar formation and axonal injury. Herein, we used the human amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (hAF-MSCs) and their conditioned medium (CM), to investigate their ability in neuroblast and astrocyte production as well as functional recovery following SCI.

Methods

Fifty-four adult rats were randomly divided into nine groups (n=6), included: Control, SCI, (SCI + DMEM), (SCI + CM), (SCI + MSCs), (SCI + Astrocyte), (SCI + Astrocyte + DMEM), (SCI + Astrocyte + CM) and (SCI + Astrocyte + MSCs). Following laminectomy and SCI induction, DMEM, CM, MSCs, and astrocytes were injected. Western blot was performed to explore the levels of the Sox2 protein in the MSCs-CM. The immunofluorescence staining against doublecortin (DCX) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was done. Finally, Basso-Beattie-Brenham (BBB) locomotor test was conducted to assess the neurological outcomes.

Results

Our results showed that the MSCs increased the number of endogenous DCX-positive cells and decreased the number of GFAP-positive cells by mediating juxtacrine and paracrine mechanisms (P<0.001). Transplanted human astrocytes were converted to neuroblasts rather than astrocytes under influence of MSCs and CM in the SCI. Moreover, functional recovery indexes were promoted in those groups that received MSCs and CM.

Conclusion

Taken together, our data indicate the MSCs via juxtacrine and paracrine pathways could direct the spinal cord endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) to the neuroblasts lineage which indicates the capability of the MSCs in the increasing of the number of DCX-positive cells and astrocytes decline.

Synergistic effects of combined therapy with cerebrolysin and enriched environment on anxiety-like behavior and spatial cognitive deficits in posttraumatic stress disorder-like mouse model

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious neuropsychiatric disorder that occurs after exposure to stressful, fearful, or troubling events. Cerebrolysin (CBL), consists of low molecular weights neurotrophic factors and amino acids obtained from purified porcine brain proteins. This study aimed to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of enriched environment (EE) and CBL alone or combined for reducing anxiety and cognitive deficits in PTSD-like mouse models. For this purpose, inescapable electric foot shocks were delivered to Balb/c mice for two consecutive days. Then mice were treated with CBL (2.5 mL/kg) and/or were kept in EE (2 h per day) or received their combination for 14 consecutive days. The hole-board test and Lashley III paradigm were used to assess anxiety and spatial learning and memory, respectively. Changes in the serum corticosterone level and expression of synaptic elements, including; growth-associated protein 43, post-synaptic density 95, and synaptophysin were assessed in the hippocampus. This model caused anxiety and spatial memory impairment associated with increased serum corticosterone levels and decreased synaptic elements. Nevertheless, CBL and/or combination treatment could reverse behavioral and molecular alterations. Our findings indicated that CBL, separately or in combination with EE, is effective in reducing anxiety and spatial memory impairment in PTSD-like mice.

Telmisartan inhibits bladder smooth muscle fibrosis in neurogenic bladder rats

Hypertension is associated with bladder symptoms. The present study investigated whether an angiotensin receptor blocker could improve the symptoms and pathological changes associated with a neurogenic bladder (NB). A Sprague-Dawley rat model of NB was constructed. Rats in the sham and model groups were gavaged with saline, and rats in the treatment group were gavaged with telmisartan. Urodynamic parameters, including maximum cystometric capacity, residual urine volume, bladder wet weight, bladder compliance and detrusor pressure, were detected. Masson and H&E staining were performed to assess bladder fibrosis and histopathological changes. The expression levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), TGF-β1, Collagen I, Collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The model rats exhibited symptoms and pathological changes associated with NB. Treatment with telmisartan reduced maximum cystometric capacity, residual urine volume, bladder compliance and bladder wet weight, and increased detrusor pressure in model rats. The tissue staining results showed that telmisartan exerted an antifibrotic effect. In addition, telmisartan inhibited the expression of bFGF, TGF-β1, Collagen I, Collagen III and α-SMA in model rats. Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that telmisartan may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for NB.

Change in the central control of the bladder function of rats with focal cerebral infarction induced by photochemically-induced thrombosis

The photochemically-induced thrombosis (photothrombosis) method can create focal cerebral infarcts anywhere in the relatively superficial layers of the cerebrum; it is easy to implement and minimally invasive. Taking advantage of this versatility, we aimed to establish a new rat model of urinary frequency with focal cerebral infarction, which was characterized by its simplicity, nonlethal nature, and high reproducibility. The prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, which are involved in lower urinary tract control, were targeted for focal cerebral infarction, and urinary parameters were measured by cystometrogram. Cystometric analysis indicated that micturition intervals significantly shortened in photothrombosis-treated rats compared with those in the sham operative group on Days 1 and 7 (P < 0.01), but prolonged after 14 days, with no difference between the two groups. Immunopathological evaluation showed an accumulation of activated microglia, followed by an increase in reactive astrocytes at the peri-infarct zone after photothrombotic stroke. Throughout this study, all postphotothrombosis rats showed cerebral infarction in the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex; there were no cases of rats with fatal cerebral infarction. This model corresponded to the clinical presentation, in that the micturition status changed after stroke. In conclusion, this novel model combining nonlethality and high reproducibility may be a suitable model of urinary frequency after focal cerebral infarction.