Differential expression of functional cannabinoid receptors in human bladder detrusor and urothelium.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-1-2009

Abstract

PURPOSE: Although cannabinoid receptor expression has been demonstrated in human brain and other peripheral neuronal tissues, definitive expression of these receptors in the human bladder has not been reported. Consequently we investigated the expression of functional cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in human bladder detrusor and urothelium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bladders were micro-dissected for detrusor (6) and urothelium (8), and analyzed for cannabinoid 1 and 2 mRNA expression using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and for protein expression using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Functional response of these receptors was tested by studying the effect of selective cannabinoid 1 and 2 agonists on nerve evoked smooth muscle contraction.

RESULTS: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed differential expression of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in detrusor and urothelium. The expression of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptor mRNA in urothelium was approximately 2-fold higher than in detrusor, although this was not significant (p >0.05). Cannabinoid 1 receptor mRNA expression was significantly higher than cannabinoid 2 receptor expression in the 2 tissue subtypes (p

CONCLUSIONS: Together these findings suggest a physiological role of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in the human bladder. Moreover, these results confirm the presence of functional cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in the human bladder, which can serve as a target for drugs acting on symptoms of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

Volume

181

Issue

4

First Page

1932

Last Page

1938

ISSN

1527-3792

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

19237176

Department(s)

Department of Surgery

Document Type

Article

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