Effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment and streptozotocin-induced diabetes on urinary bladder function in rats

A significant increase in the size and weight of the urinary bladder was observed 2 weeks after streptozotocin treatment and 2 months after neonatal capsaicin treatment. Both treatments induced a significant increase in the level of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the urinary bladder membranes. However, contractile responses of urinary bladder muscle strips to carbachol (0.3-20 microM) were not significantly affected by either treatment. On the other hand, neonatal capsaicin treatment, but not streptozotocin treatment, significantly enhanced contractile responses of bladder strips to electric field stimulation.