The Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Bladder Functions, Histology, Apoptosis and Rho-kinase Expression in Bladder Outlet Obstruction and Hypogonadism Rat Model

• Published in: Turkish journal of medical sciences Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 1491 - 1499
• Main Authors: Saylam, BariŞ, Efesoy, Ozan, BozdoĞan Arpaci, Rabİa, Tİftİk, Rukİye Nalan, Tek, Mesut, BÜyÜkafŞar, Kansu, Bozlu, Murat, Çayan, Selahİttİn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey 28.06.2021
• Subjects: Bladder; bladder outlet obstruction; apoptosis; hypogonadism; rho-kinase expression
• ISSN: 1300-0144; 1303-6165
• DOI: 10.3906/sag-2004-15

The effect of testosterone replacement therapy was investigated on bladder functions, histology, apoptosis as well as Rho-kinase expression in the rat bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and hypogonadism models. 30 mature male rats divided into 4 groups: sham group (n = 8), BOO group (n = 8), BOO + orchiectomy group (n = 7), BOO + orchiectomy + testosterone (T) treatment group (n = 7). Cystometric findings, apoptosis index, Rho-kinase (ROCK-2) expression and smooth muscle / collagen ratio were compared. BOO did not change ROCK-2 expression level, compared to sham group (p > 0.05). However, when compared to BOO group (p < 0.01), BOO + orchiectomy led ROCK-2 increase. The testosterone treatment failed to reverse the up-regulation of ROCK-2 induced by orchiectomy although it tended to lower ROCK-2 level. Compared to sham group (p = 0.002), changes in maximal bladder capacity and leak point pressure were higher (p = 0.026, p = 0.001), and bladder compliance was lower in BOO group. Also the apoptosis index was different between the two groups (p = 0.380). Smooth muscle / collagen ratio was higher in BOO + orchiectomy + T group than in BOO + orchiectomy group (p = 0.010). The research draws attention to alternating treatment approaches in case of the presence of hypogonadism and BOO.