Optogenetic Modulation of Urinary Bladder Contraction for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 18:7:40872. doi: 10.1038/srep40872.

Abstract

As current clinical approaches for lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction such as pharmacological and electrical stimulation treatments lack target specificity, thus resulting in suboptimal outcomes with various side effects, a better treatment modality with spatial and temporal target-specificity is necessary. In this study, we delivered optogenetic membrane proteins, such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and halorhodopsin (NpHR), to bladder smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of mice using either the Cre-loxp transgenic system or a viral transfection method. The results showed that depolarizing ChR2-SMCs with blue light induced bladder contraction, whereas hyperpolarizing NpHR-SMCs with yellow light suppressed PGE2-induced overactive contraction. We also confirmed that optogenetic contraction of bladder smooth muscles in this study is not neurogenic, but solely myogenic, and that optogenetic light stimulation can modulate the urination in vivo. This study thus demonstrated the utility of optogenetic modulation of smooth muscle as a means to actively control the urinary bladder contraction with spatial and temporal accuracy. These features would increase the efficacy of bladder control in LUT dysfunctions without the side effects of conventional clinical therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Channelrhodopsins / genetics
  • Channelrhodopsins / metabolism
  • Dinoprostone / pharmacology
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects
  • Evoked Potentials / radiation effects
  • Halorhodopsins / genetics
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Light
  • Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / pathology*
  • Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / veterinary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle Contraction / radiation effects
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / cytology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Optogenetics*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Urinary Bladder / cytology
  • Urinary Bladder / physiology*
  • Urination

Substances

  • Channelrhodopsins
  • Halorhodopsins
  • Dinoprostone