Abstract
The luminal surface of differentiated urothelium is characterised by the presence of asymmetric unit membrane (AUM) which contains four major integral proteins, uroplakins. Cyclophosphamide (CP) causes extensive denudation of the urothelium that is followed by regeneration. In this study the differentiation of the urothelial luminal plasma membrane was examined in CP treated rats by electron microscopy. Single dose of cyclophosphamide was injected and rats were killed after 1, 3, 7, 14 or 28 days. One day after the treatment only few cells remained in the urothelium . They had a flat surface and did not stain with anti-AUM antibody. During regeneration cells with short or pleomorphic microvilli and latter cells with ropy and leafy microridges appeared. Cells with either type of microvilli were not labelled whereas cells with microridges were labelled with anti-AUM. At day 28 the luminal surface was normal and labelled. These results show a good correlation of morphogenesis and the expression of uroplakins.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hicks RM (1975) The mammalian urinary bladder: an accommodation organ. Biol Rev 50:215–246
Wu X-R, Lin J-H, Walz T, Häner M, Yu S, Aebi U, Sun T-T (1994) Mammalian uroplakins. A group of highly conserved urothelial differentiation-related membrane proteins. J Biol Chem 269: 13716–13724
Fukushima S, Arai M, Cohen SM, Jacobs JB, Friedell GH (1981) Scanning electron microscopy of cyclophosphamide-induced hyperplasia of the rat urinary bladder. Lab Invest 44: 89–96
Hicks RM, Wakefield JStJ (1976) Membrane changes during urothelial hyperplasia and neoplasia. Cancer Res 36: 2502–2507
Bendayan M (1984) Protein A-gold electron microscopic immunocytochemistry: methods, applications and limitations. J Electron Microsc Tech 1: 243–270
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Romih, R., Jezernik, K. Reorganisation of the urothelial luminal plasma membrane in the cyclophosphamide treated rats. Pflugers Arch. 431 (Suppl 6), R241–R242 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02346358
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02346358