Aims of study: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), an endogenous gasotransmitter, modulates oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, we investigated effects of H₂S on the bladder dysfunction in the cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis in rats.
Methods: Male Wistar rats (290-320g) were treated with saline or NaHS (H₂S donor)/saline (10 μmol/kg/day, ip) once daily for one week before experiments. CYP (150 mg/kg, ip) or saline had been injected two days before the experiments. Under urethane-anesthesia (0.8 g/kg, ip), a catheter was inserted into the bladder via the bladder dome, continuous cystometry was performed (saline, 4 mL/h).
Results: CYP reduced the body weight and increased bladder weight and bladder body weight ratio (BBR). Cystometric studies showed that CYP reduced intercontraction intervals (ICI) and bladder compliance (Com) along with an increase in the number of non-voiding contractions (NVCs). NaHS pretreatment significantly improved the CYP-induced changes in ICI, Com and the number of NVCs. However, NaHS showed no significant effect on CYP-induced changes in body weight, bladder weight or BBR.
Conclusions: These data suggest that NaHS may have protective effects on CYP-induced bladder dysfunction.