PMID- 23657640 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20130926 LR - 20211021 IS - 1522-1490 (Electronic) IS - 0363-6119 (Print) IS - 0363-6119 (Linking) VI - 305 IP - 2 DP - 2013 Jul 15 TI - Repeated variate stress in male rats induces increased voiding frequency, somatic sensitivity, and urinary bladder nerve growth factor expression. PG - R147-56 LID - 10.1152/ajpregu.00089.2013 [doi] AB - Stress exacerbates symptoms of functional lower urinary tract disorders including interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and overactive bladder (OAB) in humans, but mechanisms contributing to symptom worsening are unknown. These studies address stress-induced changes in the structure and function of the micturition reflex using an animal model of stress in male rats. Rats were exposed to 7 days of repeated variate stress (RVS). Target organ (urinary bladder, thymus, adrenal gland) tissues were collected and weighed following RVS. Evans blue (EB) concentration and histamine, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and CXCL12 protein content (ELISA) were measured in the urinary bladder, and somatic sensitivity of the hindpaw and pelvic regions was determined following RVS. Bladder function was evaluated using continuous, open outlet intravesical infusion of saline in conscious rats. Increases in body weight gain were significantly (P