Effects of goshajinkigan (Niu-Che-Sen-Qi-Wan) for resiniferatoxin-sensitive afferents on detrusor overactivity induced by acetic acid in conscious rats

This study was performed to investigate the effects of goshajinkigan, a traditional Chinese herbal mixture, in conscious rats undergoing continuous cystometry. Systemic resiniferatoxin (RTX) pretreatment can block resiniferatoxin-sensitive (C-fiber) nerve-mediated bladder overactivity, such as that induced by intravesical administration of acetic acid. The effects of pretreatment with goshajinkigan and RTX alone or in combination on acetic acid-induced bladder overactivity in conscious rats were also compared. Female SD rats were divided into four groups. Groups I and 3 received normal food for 4 weeks, while groups 2 and 4 received goshajinkigan (0.09 g/kg/day) during the same period. Two days after bladder catheterization, groups 3 and 4 received RTX (0.3 mg/kg) injection, while groups I and 2 received vehicle alone. Cystometric investigations were performed on all animals 24 hours after RTX or vehicle injection. The effects of intravesical instillation of acetic acid (pH = 4.0) were compared with those of intravesical saline. Goshajinkigan significantly increased threshold pressure, voiding interval, micturition volume, and bladder capacity. Intravesical instillation of acetic acid induced bladder overactivity in both normal rats and in those pretreated with goshajinkigan. However, the effects of acetic acid on voiding interval and micturition volume were significantly different between rats given normal diet and those pretreated with goshajinkigan. The effect of acetic acid was not different between goshajinkigan- and RTX-pretreated rats. The results of the present study indicated that goshajinkigan increases voiding interval, micturition volume, and bladder capacity, and pretreatment with goshajinkigan partially blocks the bladder overactivity induced by intravesical administration of acetic acid in rats.