Title:Effects of Ganoderma Lucidum on Contractile Dysfunction of the Rabbit Urinary Bladder using an In-Vitro Model of Ischemia/Reperfusion
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Author(s): Robert M. Levin*, Li-Xia, Wu Wei, Catherine Schuler, Robert E. Leggett and Alpha D-Y Lin
Affiliation:
- Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208, New York,United States
Keywords:
Ganoderma lucidum, oxidative stress, anti-ageing, rabbits, urinary bladder, obstructive bladder dysfunction.
Abstract: Background: Obstructive Bladder Dysfunction (OBD) secondary to Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia (BPH) is a major bladder dysfunction in men. The incidence increases with age.
Oxidative stress is a major factor OBD and specific natural products with significant antioxidant
activity have proven to be useful in its treatment. Specifically in an in-vivo model of
Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) of the rabbit urinary bladder Gannoderma Lucidum (GL) have been
shown to be effective in the treatment of oxidative stress. The specific aim of the current study is to
determine if GL is effective in the treatment of oxidative stress using an in-vitro model of I/R of the
rabbit urinary bladder.
Methods: Eight NZW rabbits were divided into 2 groups. One group was fed Ganoderma Lucidum
(GL) (100 mg/Kg) daily for 3 weeks while the other were controls. At the end of the 3 week period,
each rabbit was euthanized and the bladder separated into six strips and mounted in individual baths.
Each strip was stimulated with Field Stimulation (FS), Carbachol, potassium chloride (KCl), and
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). After the control stimulations, the oxygenated baths were subjected
to nitrogen in the absence of glucose (ischemia) for 1 hour while being stimulated at 32Hz at 5 minute
intervals. After 1 hour of ischemia, the buffer was changed back to normal oxygenated Tyrode's
with glucose and allowed to recover for 2 hours. After this time period, the strips were stimulated as
described earlier.
Results: 1) There was a rapid and near complete inhibition of the contractile responses during the
ischemic period for both control and GL groups; 2) For the control group, following I/R there was a
86% decrease in the response to FS, 11% decrease in the response to ATP, 17% decrease in the response
to carbachol, and 20% decrease in the response to KCl. For the GL group, there was a 71%
decrease in the response to FS, and no decreases in the responses to ATP, carbachol, or KCl.
Conclusion: Pretreatment of rabbits for three weeks with GL prior to subjecting them to in-vitro
ischemia/reperfusion significantly protected the bladder strips from all forms of contractile dysfunctions,
although the response to FS was still significantly decreased.
