Effects of low androgen environment on urinary bladder function : a study on the basis of factors related to smooth muscle contraction

本研究旨在通过去势小鼠和老年小鼠作为雄激素水平降低的动物模型，探讨雄激素环境改变在老年或低雄激素血症男性膀胱功能障碍中的可能参与。免疫组织化学观察显示，补充雄激素后，上述模型中与平滑肌收缩有关的因子，包括Rho激酶和血管紧张素II受体1(AT1)的表达减少。这些结果表明，低雄激素环境导致Rho激酶和AT1表达减少，从而导致膀胱功能障碍。

This study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the altered androgen environment in urinary bladder dysfunction frequently seen in elder or hypoandrogenemic men by using castrated mice and aged mice as animal models with reduced androgen levels. Immunohistchemical observations of the bladder tissues revealed that the reduced expression of factors related to smooth muscle contraction including Rho kinase and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) in these models were up regulated by androgen supplementation. These results suggest that low androgen environment cause decreased expression of Rho kinase and AT1, thereby contributing to urinary bladder dysfunction.