Elif Hilal Vural; Melis Dülgeroglu; Tilbenur Akyel & Gökçe Sevim Öztürk Fincan

It is known that mediators including prostaglandins, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have a role in  contraction and relaxation in a variety of tissues, including the bladder. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of nitrergic and prostaglandinergic pathways to the possible effect of H2S and the interaction between these pathways on bladder. The study was performed on male Wistar rat’s bladder strips. The effects of NaHS and L-cysteine on carbachol-mediated or EFS-evoked contractile responses were measured. The responses were also measured with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors incubation and NOS inhibitor incubation. Additionally, COX inhibitors and L-NAME were incubated in combination in EFS-mediated responses of NaHS. The highest concentrations of NaHS and L-cysteine caused inhibition on carbachol-mediated responses. No statistical significance was detected in the responses in COX inhibitors (FBP, ASA, NFA) or L-NAME incubations. Upon EFS-evoked contractile responses, when NaHS was applied, it caused inhibition at the highest concentration. FBP and NFA significantly increased the effect of NaHS. While L-cysteine alone did not have a relaxant effect but statistically significant inhibition with ASA and FBP incubation. COX inhibitors and L-NAME co-incubation reversed NaHS effect at only certain concentrations. Our study shows that nitric oxide, prostaglandins, and hydrogen sulfide are mediators that interact in the contractile or relaxation function of the bladder. However, how this interaction occurs has not yet been clearly revealed. With further studies on this subject, it seems possible that they can become a new treatment target in bladder dysfunction.

KEY WORDS: Hydrogen sulfide; Nitric oxide; Cycloocxygenase inhibitors; Electrical field stimulation; Isolated organ bath.

VURAL, E. H.; DÜLGEROGLU, M.; AKYEL, T. & ÖZTÜRK FINCAN, G.S. Evaluation of the effect of inhibition of prostaglandinergic and nitrergic pathways on hydrogen sulfide responses in rat bladder smooth muscles. Int. J. Morphol., 43(1):116-122, 2025.