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

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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.