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Effect of castration on male rabbit lower urinary tract tissue enzymes

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Abstract

Objectives The influence of testosterone on the prostate and corpus cavernosum have been studied extensively. However, the influence of testosterone on the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra) have not been investigated to any great extent. The aim of this study was to determine whether androgen deprivation alters lower urinary tract metabolism. Methods A total of 16 rabbits were divided into four groups of four rabbits each. Each rabbit in groups 1–3 underwent surgical bilateral castration for duration of 1, 2 , and 4 weeks, and group 4 underwent sham operations. Sections of bladder body and base wall and mucosa, urethra and corpora were isolated, frozen, and stored under liquid nitrogen. The activities of citrate synthase-thapsigargin sensitive Ca2+ ATPase (Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPase [SERCA]), and choline acetyl-transferase were examined as markers for mitochondrial function, sarcoplasmic reticular calcium storage and release, and cholinergic nerve function, respectively. Results The activity of SR function indicator, Ca2+ ATPase was significantly higher in the control corpora than in the control bladder or urethra. Castration resulted in decreased activity in the mitochondria specific enzyme, citrate synthase, the activity of which was greatest in the urethra and lowest in the corpora. Cholinergic nerve density indicator, choline acetyl-transferase activity was greatest in the bladder body and lowest in the urethra. Conclusions Our data indicate that (1) significant differences exist in the activities of all three enzymes in the various organs associated with the lower urinary tract; and (2) that castration results in significant alterations in the activities of all three enzymes in the bladder body, base, urethra, and corpora.

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Acknowledgements

This material is based in part upon work supported by the Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs and NIH grant RO-1-DK067114. Bulent Onal was supported in part by The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA

    Robert E. Leggett, Catherine Whitbeck & Robert M. Levin

  2. Albany College of Pharmacy, 106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208, USA

    Samuel Broadaway, Julia Cosgrove, Robert E. Leggett, Catherine Whitbeck & Robert M. Levin

  3. Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA

    Elise De & Robert M. Levin

  4. Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Yung-Shun Juan

  5. University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bulent Onal

  6. Albany Academy for Girls, Albany, NY, USA

    Rebekah Sokol

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  1. Yung-Shun Juan
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  2. Bulent Onal
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  3. Samuel Broadaway
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  4. Julia Cosgrove
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  5. Robert E. Leggett
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  6. Catherine Whitbeck
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  7. Elise De
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  8. Rebekah Sokol
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  9. Robert M. Levin
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Correspondence to Robert M. Levin.

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Juan, YS., Onal, B., Broadaway, S. et al. Effect of castration on male rabbit lower urinary tract tissue enzymes. Mol Cell Biochem 301, 227–233 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-007-9415-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-007-9415-8

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