Manual acupuncture alleviates bladder dysfunction by up-regulating expression of NGF and its receptors in bladder tissue of diabetic neurogenic bladder rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture on diabetic neurogenic bladder (DNB) rats through the protein and mRNA expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), p75neurotrophinreceptor (p75NTR) in bladder tissue, as well as the levels of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP). Methods A DNB rat model was induced using intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group, and a manual acupuncture group (n = 10). For the manual acupuncture group, the manual acupuncture was applied after modeling. These groups were compared regarding body weight, fasting blood-glucose (FBG), and bladder wet weight. The histomorphology of muscle fibers were observed after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of bladder tissue sections. Protein and mRNA expression of NGF, TrkA and p75NTR in the bladder tissue were determined by Western blot and real-time PCR analysis, respectively. Levels of SP and CGRP in the bladder tissue were determined by ELISA. Results Compared to the blank control group, the model group and manual acupuncture group both showed higher FBG and lower body weight after STZ injection (P < 0.05). Compared to the blank control group, the model group and manual acupuncture group both showed higher bladder wet weight (P < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation indicated that manual acupuncture improved muscle fiber alignment disorders and detrusor cells compensatory hypertrophy in bladder tissue. The protein and mRNA expression of NGF, TrkA, p75NTR and the levels of SP and CGRP in bladder tissue of the manual acupuncture group were significantly higher than those of the model group (P < 0.01). Conclusions The therapeutic effect of manual acupuncture on bladder dysfunction in DNB may be mediated by up-regulating of the protein and mRNA expression of NGF, TrkA, p75NTR and the levels of SP and CGRP in bladder tissue.