Hailin Shen1, Zhipeng Chen2, Al-Dhabi Mokhtar1, Xiaojun Bi1, Guolin Wu1, Shide Gong1, Chuanyang Huang1, Shuai Li1, Shuqi Du3. 1. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China. 2. Department of Urology, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, 261042, Shandong, China. 3. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China. dushuqi2015@sina.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ureter peristalsis is a basic physiological function regulated by myogenic and neurogenic factors. The distribution and function of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in the human ureter remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of β-AR subtypes in the normal and dilated human ureter. METHODS: The upper, middle, and lower segments of normal and dilated ureters were collected from patients undergoing surgery for carcinoma of the kidney and upper urinary tract and ureteral stenosis. The mucosa and muscular layers were separated. Expression of β1-AR, β2-AR, and β3-AR mRNA and protein levels were detected by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In both mucosa and muscular layers, the mRNA and protein expressions of β1-AR, β2-AR, and β3-AR were lower in the dilated ureter compared with the normal ureter. β1-AR mRNA was significantly decreased (by 76.64%; P < 0.01) in the mucosa layer of the middle segment of the dilated ureter. β1-AR and β3-AR mRNA were significantly decreased (by 75.53 and 53.62%, respectively; P < 0.01) in the muscular layer of the lower segment of the dilated ureter. Similar findings were observed for protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: The downregulation of β-ARs after ureter dilation, particularly for β1-AR and β3-AR in the muscular layer, suggests a potential compensatory mechanism involving increased contraction of the ureter to push urine through the obstruction. Thus, β-ARs may be a potential target for treatment of ureter obstruction.
BACKGROUND: Ureter peristalsis is a basic physiological function regulated by myogenic and neurogenic factors. The distribution and function of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in the human ureter remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of β-AR subtypes in the normal and dilated human ureter. METHODS: The upper, middle, and lower segments of normal and dilated ureters were collected from patients undergoing surgery for carcinoma of the kidney and upper urinary tract and ureteral stenosis. The mucosa and muscular layers were separated. Expression of β1-AR, β2-AR, and β3-AR mRNA and protein levels were detected by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In both mucosa and muscular layers, the mRNA and protein expressions of β1-AR, β2-AR, and β3-AR were lower in the dilated ureter compared with the normal ureter. β1-AR mRNA was significantly decreased (by 76.64%; P < 0.01) in the mucosa layer of the middle segment of the dilated ureter. β1-AR and β3-AR mRNA were significantly decreased (by 75.53 and 53.62%, respectively; P < 0.01) in the muscular layer of the lower segment of the dilated ureter. Similar findings were observed for protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: The downregulation of β-ARs after ureter dilation, particularly for β1-AR and β3-AR in the muscular layer, suggests a potential compensatory mechanism involving increased contraction of the ureter to push urine through the obstruction. Thus, β-ARs may be a potential target for treatment of ureter obstruction.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dilated ureter; Human; Normal ureter; Obstruction; β-adrenergic receptor