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

本研究旨在通过使用去势小鼠和老年小鼠作为雄激素水平降低的动物模型，研究雄激素环境改变在老年或低雄激素血症男性中常见的膀胱功能障碍中的可能参与。膀胱组织的免疫组织化学观察显示，在这些模型中，与平滑肌收缩相关的因子，包括Rho激酶和血管紧张素II受体1型（AT1）的表达减少，雄激素补充上调。这些结果表明，低雄激素环境导致Rho激酶和AT 1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.