Search

Aims: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder. However, there are only a few medicines that are of pharmaceutical grade and reliably effective for IC/BPS symptoms. Choreito (CRT) is a pharmaceutical‐grade Kampo medicine and has been widely prescribed for patients of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and BPS in Japan. In this study, we exploratory investigated the effects of CRT on the IC/BPS‐like symptoms induced by tranilast. Methods: The rat IC/BPS‐like model was induced by feeding administration with 0.4% tranilast. The rats were divided into the three following treatment groups: normal diet (Normal), tranilast treatment (Control), and the groups of 1% CRT (CRT) treatment for IC/BPS‐like model. After 4 weeks, continuous cystmetry, locomotor, and vascular permeability was assessed. Furthermore, the cytokine levels in bladder were analyzed by the Bio‐Plex suspension array system and plasma monoamine were measured. Results: Control group exhibited 14.3% decrease of locomotor activity in the dark period, and which were 20.3% increase by 1%CRT treatment. The voiding interval was shorter in control than in other groups. 1%CRT suppressed the shortening of voiding interval. Evans blue leakage of bladder wall observed 44.8% higher in control group than in the normal group. The leakage of 1%CRT group was 33.3% less than in the control group. The cytokine level of IFNγ and VEGF were elevated in the control, and CRT treatment suppressed the elevation of IFNγ in the bladder. Plasma noradrenaline was significantly reduced by CRT treatment compared normal group. Conclusion: These results suggest that CRT can be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of IC/BPS‐like symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether Dahl salt‐sensitive rats fed a high‐salt diet would show features of nocturia due to nocturnal polyuria and to examine the efficacy of choreito (CRT) on nocturnal polyuria. Methods: Dahl salt‐sensitive rats were divided into three groups. Group A was fed a 4% salt diet, group B a 2% salt diet, and group C a normal 0.3% salt diet. In groups α and β, other rats were further divided into two groups: The rats in group α were fed a 2% salt plus 3% CRT diet, and those in group β, were fed a 2% salt diet. Each rat was placed in an individual metabolic cage for 24 hours every week for 6 weeks. Water intake, urine production, voiding frequency, and voided volume per micturition were recorded. Results: The systolic blood pressure increased in the group fed a 4% salt diet compared to groups fed with a 2% and 0.3% salt diet. The urinary volume was higher in the groups fed with 4% and 2% salt than in the group fed with 0.3% salt. Further, water intake in the group fed a 2% salt plus 3% CRT diet was significantly lower than that in the group fed with a 2% salt diet. Conclusions: Dahl salt‐sensitive rats fed a 2% salt diet were candidates for a model of nocturnal polyuria. Using this model, we suggest that CRT reduces water intake in the active phase and contributes to water restriction in the treatment of nocturnal polyuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Cover b : The cover image is based on the Research Article I Choreito, a Kampo medicine attenuates detrusor overactivity and bladder pain symptoms in rat tranilast-induced interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome-like model i by Yohei Tokita PhD et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.25095. [Extracted from the article]

Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) contributes to water reabsorption and urine concentration by migrating to the luminal surface of the collecting ducts in an anti-diuretic hormone-stimulated manner, and the signaling pathway involved in AQP2 subcellular localization is a target for arginine vasopressin receptor antagonists (aquaretics). This study investigated the involvement of AQP2 in the diuretic effect and mechanisms of Goreisan (GRS), a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine used to treat conditions such as edema in patients with decreased urination. GRS exerted diuretic effects on desmopressin (DDAVP)-induced decreases in urine output and the level of AQP2 phosphorylated at Serine269 (pSer269-AQP2) in the renal tissues of mice. Furthermore, GRS inhibited the accumulation of pSer269-AQP2 to the luminal side following forskolin stimulation using a 3D culture model of the kidney collecting duct cell line mIMCD-3. GRS induced a transient increase in the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration via the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and suppressed the forskolin-stimulated increase in cAMP production. These results suggest that GRS regulates urine volume by modulating the subcellular localization of AQP2 via CaSR., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: All authors are employed by Tsumura & Co. This study received funding from Tsumura & Co. The funder was involved in the following aspects of the study: study design, data collection and analysis, publication decision, and manuscript preparation. The authors declare no other competing interests. Ethics approval: All animal experiments were approved by the Laboratory Animal Committee of Tsumura & Co. (approval nos. 23 − 013, 23–024) and performed in accordance with guidelines for the conduct of animal experiments from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. This study is reported in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines., (© 2024. The Author(s).)