Effect of age on the response to in vitro ischemia and reperfusion of the rabbit bladder

PubMed ID: 17293657Background/Aims: Urinary bladder dysfunction secondary to outlet obstruction is a common condition, seen in both children and adults. Using in vitro models of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), we compared the contractile and biochemical responses of bladders isolated from young and old rabbits. Materials and Methods: Fourteen male New Zealand White rabbits were separated into two groups of 7. Group 1 (young) included rabbits 6-7 weeks old and group 2 (old) consisted of rabbits 2 years old. Isolated bladder body strips were subjected to in vitro I/R, and the effects on contractility were determined. The strips were then frozen and stored for quantitative malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis. Results: Contractile responses of young and old rabbit bladders to all forms of stimulation - field stimulation (FS), carbachol and potassium chloride (KCl) - were equal. The rate of tension to 32 Hz FS was significantly higher for group 1 in comparison with group 2. The old and young rabbits were equally sensitive to I/R in regard to FS, but the old rabbits were more sensitive to I/R in regard to carbachol and KCl stimulation. Basal MDA concentration of both young and aged bladder strips were similar. Ischemia mediated a significant increase in MDA in bladder strips from both young and old rabbits, but the MDA level was significantly greater for the young than for the old. Conclusion: Although the level of oxidative damage was greater in the young rabbit bladders, functionally, the old rabbit bladders were more sensitive to I/R damage. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG