Losartan prevents bladder fibrosis and protects renal function in rat with neurogenic paralysis bladder

Aims To investigate the effect of losartan on preventing bladder fibrosis and protecting renal function in rats with neurogenic paralysis bladder (NPB). Materials and Methods Rats were assigned to the transecting spinal nerves group (TSNG), transecting spinal nerves + losartan group (LSTG), and control group (CG). On Day 32 postsurgery, bladder capacity (BC), bladder compliance (ΔC), bladder leakage pressure (Pves.leak) of TSNG and LSTG while BC, ΔC, and bladder threshold pressure (Pves.thre) of CG were measured by cystometry in each cohort. Renal function and the expression quantity of Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang II) in blood were detected, in addition Ang II, Ang II Type 1 receptor (AT1), transformation growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), Collagen Ⅲ, and collagen fibrin in the bladder tissue were detected too. Results ΔC in TSNG and LSTG decreased significantly compared to the CG. Pves.leak in TSNG and LSTG were significantly higher than Pves.thre in CG. Renal function of both TSNG and LSTG decreased significantly compared with the CG, but renal function in LSTG was better than in TSNG. Ang Ⅱ in blood and bladder tissue in TSNG and LSTG increased significantly compared with CG. AT1 was expressed in the bladder tissue of all rats. The TGFβ1, Collagen Ⅲ, and collagen fibrin expression level increased significantly in TSNG compared with LSTG and CG, while these levels were not significantly different between CG and LSTG. Conclusion Losartan might prevent NPB fibrosis by stopping the upregulated signaling of Ang II/AT1/TGFβ1 and consequently may reduce kidney damage from occurring.