Effects of 17beta-estradiol on rat urinary bladder: gender differences in anoxia-glucopenia and reperfusion damage

Aim: To study the effect of 17b-estradiol (E2) as a neuroprotective agent in male and female rat urinary bladders subjected to Anoxia-Glucopenia and Reperfusion (A/G-R) damage. Methods: Rat urinary bladders were exposed to 1 hour of A–G and 2 hours of reperfusion (R). Intrinsic nerves underwent electrical field stimulation. The effect of E2 on the contractile response and its recovery in R phase, was monitored by adding it to the bath medium, at different concentrations, 60 min before A–G, during the A–G and the first 30 min of R. Furthermore, on both genders, in vivo treatments with E2, testosterone, IC1 182,780 and anastrozole were performed. Results: After A–G the recovery of the nerve function in female bladders were significantly higher than in male. E2 given both in vivo (increased of E2 plasma levels were monitored) and in vitro, resulted to be neuroprotective in male bladder subjected to A–G/R damage. When rats were treated with anastrozole, a lower recovery of nerve responses both in male and female bladders was observed. Finally, treatments with E2 receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 increased E2 plasma levels and showed to abolished E2 neuroprotection, thus suggesting that E2 promotes nelronal survival likely through a rapid estrogen receptor mediated response. Conclusions: Male rat urinary bladder serves are more susceptible to A–G/R damage than female. E2 exhibits neuroprotective properties and could be a lead for novel agents capable to protect the urinary bladder from ischaemia/reperfusion damage associated with urinary bladder disorders.