Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Ultra-structural morphological abnormalities of the urinary bladder in streptozotocin-induced diabetic female rats

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ultra-structural changes in the urinary bladder of diabetic rats in relation to disease duration since the morphological bases of diabetes-induced bladder dysfunction are poorly understood. Urinary bladders were examined chronologically by electron microscopy in a female Wistar-rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and compared to control samples. Numerous dark mitochondria with swollen cristae and electron lucent, large, calcified and degenerated mitochondria were observed first in the urothelium. Intraepithelial capillaries surrounded by thick collagen were also present. Gap junctions between myocytes were interrupted or extensively widened with reduced mitochondria and caveolae. Collagen accumulation, degenerated nerve fibres and myelin bodies were seen between myocytes with increased collagen content and frequent mast cells, phagocytes and lymphocyte aggregates in the stroma. All ultra-structural lesions became augmented with longer duration of diabetes. Diabetes induces time-dependent pathologic changes in the urinary bladder of rats that might account for bladder dysfunction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Siracusano S, d‘Aloia G, Lentini MG, Silvestre G (2002) Diabetic cystopathy. Diab Nutr Metab 15:41–44

    Google Scholar 

  2. Paro M, Prashar A, Prosdocimi M, Cherian PV, Fiori MG, Sima AF (1994) Urinary bladder dysfunction in the BB/W diabetic rat: effect of ganglioside treatment on functional and structural alterations. J Urol 151:781–786

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kaplan SA, Te AE, Blaivas JG (1995) Urodynamic findings in patients with diabetic cystopathy. J Urol 153:342–344

    Google Scholar 

  4. Von Poppel H, Stessens R, Van Damme B, Carton H, Baert L (1988) Diabetic cystopathy: neuropathological examination of urinary bladder biopsies. Eur Urol 15:128–131

    Google Scholar 

  5. Nickell K, Boone TB (1996) Peripheral neuropathy and peripheral nerve injury. Urol Clin North Am 23:491–500

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tong YC, Chin WT, Cheng JT (2002) Role of sorbitol in the up-regulation of urinary bladder M2 muscarinic receptors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Neurourol Urodyn 21:154–159

    Google Scholar 

  7. Watanabe T, Miyagawa I (1999) Characteristics of detrusor contractility during micturition in diabetics. Neurourol Urodyn 18:163–171

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ishigooka M, Suzuki Y, Hayami S, Ichiyanagi O, Hashimoto T, Nakada T (1996) Role of symptom scoring and uroflowmetry in patients with diabetic cystopathy. Int Urol Nephrol 28:761–766

    Google Scholar 

  9. Brown JS (2002). Epidemiology and changing demographics of overactive bladder: a focus on postmenopausal woman. Geriatrics 57(Suppl 1):6–12

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ichiyanagi N, Tsujii T, Masuda H, Kihara K, Goto M, Azuma H (2002) Changed responsiveness of the detrusor in rabbits with alloxan induced hyperglycemia: possible role of 5-hydroxytryptamine for diabetic bladder dysfunction. J Urol 168:303–307

    Google Scholar 

  11. Longhurst PA, Levin RM (1991) Changes in bladder function in the one year spontaneously diabetic BB rat. J Urol 146:481–485

    Google Scholar 

  12. Santicoli P, Gamse R, Maggi CA, Meli A (1987) Cystometric changes in the early phase of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats: evidence of sensory changes not correlated to diabetic neuropathy. Arch Pharmacol 335:580–587

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pitre DA, Ma T, Wallace LJ, Bauer JA (2002) Time-dependent urinary bladder remodeling in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Acta Diabetol 39:23–27

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mumtaz FH, Dashwood MR, Thompson CS, Sullivan ME, Mikhailidis DP, Morgan RJ (1999) Increased expression of endothelin B receptors in the diabetic rabbit urinary bladder: functional relevance. Br J Urol Int 83:113–122

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mastropietro MA, Geary W, Fuller E, Benson JT (2001). Detrusor biopsy as a potential clinical tool. Int Urogynecol J 12:355–360

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hailemariam S, Elbadawi A, Yalla SV, Resnick NM (1997) Structural basis of geriatric voiding dysfunction. V. Standardized protocols for routine ultrastructural study and diagnosis of endoscopic detrusor biopsies. J Urol 157:1783–1801

    Google Scholar 

  17. Elbadawi A, Resnick NM, Dorsam J, Yalla SV, Haferkamp A (2003) Structural basis of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. I. Methods of prospective ultrastructural study and overview of the findings. J Urol 169:540–546

    Google Scholar 

  18. Holm NR, Horn T, Elbadawi A, Skjoldby B, Nordling J (1996) A new technique for detrusor biopsy and its applicability in the ultrastructural study and diagnosis of voiding dysfunction. Br J Urol 77:785–791

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rizk DEE, Mustafa N, Thomas L (2001) The prevalence of urinary tract infections in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Int Urogynecol J 12:317–322

    Google Scholar 

  20. Longhurst PA, Levendusky MC, Bezuijen MW (2004) Diabetes mellitus increases the rate of development of decompensation in rats with outlet obstruction. J Urol 171:933–937

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bezuijen MW, Levendusky MC, Longhurst PA (2003) Functional response of bladder strips from streptozotocin diabetic rats depends on bladder mass. J Urol 169:2397–2401

    Google Scholar 

  22. Poladia DP, Bauer JA (2003) Early cell-specific changes in nitric oxide synthases, reactive nitrogen species formation, and ubiquitinylation during diabetes-related bladder remodeling. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 19:313–319

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kuroki T, Isshiki K, King GL (2003) Oxidative stress: the lead or supporting actor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. J Am Soc Nephrol 14(Suppl 3):S216–S220

    Google Scholar 

  24. McDowell EM, Trump BF (1976) Histologic fixatives suitable for diagnostic light and electron microscopy. Arch Pathol Lab Med 100:405–414

    Google Scholar 

  25. Poladia DP, Bauer JA (2004) Oxidant driven signaling pathways during diabetes: role of Rac1 and modulation of protein kinase activity in mouse urinary bladder. Biochimie 86:543–551

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a research grant from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates—NP/04/14. We would like to thank Mrs. I. Lizarriturri for technical assistance with figures.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Diaa E. E. Rizk

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Rengasamy K. Padmanabhan, Saeed Tariq & Ijaz Ahmed

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Mohamed Shafiullah

Authors
  1. Diaa E. E. Rizk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rengasamy K. Padmanabhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saeed Tariq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohamed Shafiullah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ijaz Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diaa E. E. Rizk.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rizk, D.E.E., Padmanabhan, R.K., Tariq, S. et al. Ultra-structural morphological abnormalities of the urinary bladder in streptozotocin-induced diabetic female rats. Int Urogynecol J 17, 143–154 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1359-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1359-5

Keywords