Combined treatment with a β3‐adrenergic receptor agonist and a muscarinic receptor antagonist inhibits detrusor overactivity induced by cold stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Aims This study determined if combined treatment with the muscarinic receptor (MR) antagonist solifenacin and the β3‐adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist mirabegron could inhibit detrusor overactivity induced by cold stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods Thirty‐two female 10‐week‐old SHRs were fed an 8% NaCl‐supplemented diet for 4 weeks. Cystometric measurements of the unanesthetized, unrestricted rats were performed at room temperature (RT, 27 ± 2°C) for 20 min. The rats were then intravenously administered vehicle, 0.1 mg/kg solifenacin alone, 0.1 mg/kg mirabegron alone, or the combination of 0.1 mg/kg mirabegron and 0.1 mg/kg solifenacin (n = 8 each group). Five minutes later, the treated rats were exposed to low temperature (LT, 4 ± 2°C) for 40 min. Finally, the rats were returned to RT. After the cystometric investigations, the β3‐ARs and M3‐MRs expressed within the urinary bladders were analyzed. Results Just after transfer from RT to LT, vehicle‐, solifenacin‐, and mirabegron‐treated SHRs exhibited detrusor overactivity that significantly decreased voiding interval and bladder capacity. However, treatment with the combination of solifenacin and mirabegron partially inhibited the cold stress‐induced detrusor overactivity patterns. The decreases of voiding interval and bladder capacity in the combination‐treated rats were significantly inhibited compared to other groups. Within the urinary bladders, there were no differences between expression levels of M3‐MR and β3‐AR mRNA. The tissue distribution of M3‐MRs was similar to that of the β3‐ARs. Conclusions This study suggested that the combination of solifenacin and mirabegron act synergistically to inhibit the cold stress‐induced detrusor overactivity in SHRs. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1026–1033, 2017. © 2016 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.