Effect of doxazosin on expression of eNOS in rat kidney in the presence of partial bladder outlet obstruction

Background: The role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of renal injury has begun to be appreciated. We therefore designed this study to demonstrate the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and doxazosin in the kidneys of rats with surgically created partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), to further understand the role of doxazosin in the prevention of renal parenchymal damage by partial BOO. Material and methods: A total of 35 adult female Wistar rats, mean weight 250 g, were randomly allocated to 3 experimental groups: group1, sham-operated (n=10); group 2, partial BOO group (n=14) and group 3, partial BOO group treated with doxazosin (n=11). Partial BOO in rats was surgically induced. Results were assessed by eNOS immunohistochemistry. Results: eNOS staining in kidneys in group 1 (16.45 +/- 1.63) was significantly higher than in group 2 (5.09 +/- 0.61) (p<0.05). After 15 days of doxazosin treatment in addition to partial BOO (group 3), eNOS staining in the kidney (11.80 +/- 1.63) was significantly higher than in group 2 (5.09 +/- 0.61) (p<0.05). In samples taken after 15 days of doxazosin treatment in addition to partial BOO, eNOS staining in kidneys (11.80 +/- 1.63) was lower than in the sham-operated group (16.45 +/- 1.63), but the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings may provide insight into the beneficial and restorative effects of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists on eNOS expression in the kidney, when used to treat symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia and hypertension.