Time-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism and functional changes in rats bladder tissue after suprasacral spinal cord injury

Background

A critical aspect affecting the quality of life in Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) patients is bladder dysfunction. Metabolities in arachidonic acid are crucial lipid signaling molecules involved innumerous physiological processes. In this study, We are the first use eicosanoid metabolomics detrusor contraction examine, to assess the effect of the arachidonic acid metabolic in bladder dysfunction following TSCI. In additon, we explore the time of inflammatory and function changes in bladder tissue.

Methods

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to improved Weight Drop method surgeries. Detrusor contraction examination, urodynamic examination, eicosanoid metabolomics, transmission electron microscopy, Elisa and histological staining were performed to assess the change of inflammatory, metabolic and function variation over time after TSCI.

Results

Following TSCI, before the variations of bladder function, inflammatory changes including the increase of inflammatory factors, mitochondrial damage, and slight lipid peroxidation, occurred in bladder tissue. And the inflammatory changes gradually decreases over time. However, From the third day after TSCI, secondary lesions appeared in bladder tissue. Not only did inflammation-related indexes increase again, the degree of mitochondrial damage and lipid peroxidation increased, but also the contractility of detrusor began to change significantly. We also found that the content of metabolites in arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and the degree of detrusor contractility change showed a strong correlation. In addition, we found that rats had moved beyond the spinal shock stage on the seventh day after TSCI.

Conclusion

Altogether, we are the first to demonstrate that abnormal arachidonic acid metabolism plays an important role in bladder dysfunction after TSCI. We also demonstrate that 3d is a critical juncture for changes in rat bladder tissue, which indicates it is an important juncture in the treatment of neurogenic bladder.