Abstract

Background: Bladder dysfunction is a complicated condition that substantially impairs quality of life for both men and women. Due to the adverse effects and limited efficacy of current therapies, new strategies must be rapidly developed. Female bladder dysfunction arises from multifaceted etiologies distinct from the predominantly male benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that is the focus of existing drug development. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Quisqualis indica extract (QIE), a traditional medicinal herb that attenuates BPH-induced lower urinary symptoms (LUTS), to elucidate its underlying mechanisms in a female bladder dysfunction model. Methods and Results: A bladder dysfunction model was established by inducing partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) in female Sprague Dawley rats, followed by the oral administration of QIE for 7 weeks. Voiding pattern analysis and cystometry were conducted to evaluate indicators such as voiding frequency, voiding volume, and intravesical pressure. Histological analysis of excised bladder tissue quantified smooth muscle hypertrophy and collagen deposition. Gene expression profiling of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related markers within the bladder tissue was performed to assess tissue remodeling. Furthermore, pharmacological contraction studies examined the direct effects of QIE on detrusor muscle responsiveness to muscarinic and purinergic agonists. QIE administration significantly improved the elevated voiding pressure and abnormal inter-contraction intervals observed in the pBOO rats, restoring normal voiding patterns. Histological examination revealed a marked decrease in muscle hypertrophy and collagen deposition. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β) and fibrosis-associated genes (TGF-β, α-SMA) were downregulated. Pharmacological contraction assays demonstrated that QIE attenuated the hypercontractile response of bladder smooth muscle to a muscarinic agonist, with concurrent reduced expression of muscarinic receptors (M2, M3) at the mRNA level. Conclusions:QIE ameliorates key aspects of bladder dysfunction, voiding abnormalities, inflammation, fibrosis, and hypercontractility by modulating muscarinic receptor signaling and fibrotic pathways. This study suggests that QIE warrants further investigation as a natural product-based therapeutic candidate for female bladder dysfunction.

IPC Classification

Keywords