Aim: To investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is effective for the pathophysiological findings in an IC/PBS-like mouse model induced by intravesical hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ).
Methods: Six-week-old ICR female mice (N = 16) were divided into four experimental groups: (1) sham control with intravesical vehicle instillation twice, and without subsequent treatment (N = 4); (2) H2 O2 instillation twice, followed by HBO (100% O2 , 2 ATA, 30 min per session) (N = 4); (3) H2 O2 instillation twice, followed by dummy hyperbaric treatment (air, 2ATA, 30 min per session) (N = 4); and (4) H2 O2 instillation twice, followed by no treatment (N = 4). Body weight, voiding frequency, tidal voiding volume, and individual bladder pain threshold using the von-Frey test were measured. Whole body uptake of an inflammation-specific fluorescent pan-cathepsin was assessed by an in vivo imaging. Immunohistochemical staining and the mRNA expression of several biomarkers associated with chronic inflammation in resected bladders were evaluated.
Results: The HBO-treated group showed significant improvement in voiding frequency, tidal voiding volume, and the individual bladder pain threshold. Moreover, HBO markedly suppressed H2 O2 -induced inflammation, edema, and fibrosis in bladder wall, concomitant with a significant decrease in mRNA expressions of inflammation biomarkers and a significant increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. HBO also inhibited the expression of transient receptor potential channels induced by H2 O2 instillation.
Conclusion: These results suggest that HBO contributes to elimination of H2 O2 -induced long-lasting cystitis through the repair of chronically inflamed bladder tissue and inhibition of the bladder sensory system.
Keywords: bladder pain; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; hydrogen peroxide; hyperbaric oxygen; interstitial cystitis; transient receptor potential.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.