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Murine social stress results in long lasting voiding dysfunction.
Stephan Butler1, Sandra Luz2, Kile McFadden2
1The John W. Duckett Center for Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, United States.
Physiology & Behavior
|October 10, 2017
Summary
Social stress causes lasting urinary dysfunction in male mice. Bladder changes and elevated stress neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) persist even after stress removal, indicating no recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Urology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- Social stress can induce significant physiological changes, including alterations in voiding patterns.
- Stress neuropeptides, such as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), are implicated in stress responses and may influence organ function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether stress-induced voiding dysfunction in male mice is reversible after removal from the stressor.
- To determine the role of CRF in persistent voiding changes and bladder remodeling.
Main Methods:
- Male mice were subjected to daily social stress, and voiding patterns were assessed.
- Following stress exposure, mice were allowed a recovery period with or without fluoxetine treatment.
- Bladder mass, voiding parameters, and CRF mRNA expression in Barrington's nucleus were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Social stress led to increased bladder mass and voided volumes, with decreased urinary frequency.
- These voiding abnormalities persisted after a one-month recovery period, irrespective of fluoxetine treatment.
- Elevated CRF mRNA in Barrington's nucleus remained high post-recovery, correlating with persistent voiding dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Social stress-induced voiding dysfunction and associated CRF elevation in male mice are persistent and not reversed by a one-month recovery period.
- Fluoxetine did not ameliorate the persistent voiding phenotype or CRF upregulation.
- The findings suggest a long-term impact of social stress on the neural control of micturition.
