Hypothesis / aims of study
Chronic prostatic inflammation can lead to overactive bladder symptoms, such as bladder overactivity and persistent bladder discomfort/pain, causing substantial suffering and decreased quality of life in patients. However, the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis is complex, and the mechanism of related bladder symptoms is not well understood. To date, few studies have considered the influence of psychological factors on chronic prostatitis (PRO) models. Here, we aim to refine a murine chronic prostatitis model combining chemically induced prostatitis with psychological stress to better simulate the possible pathogenesis in clinical practice and explore the effect of psychological stress on prostatitis and bladder function.
Study design, materials and methods
A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control (NC) group, PRO group, water avoidance stress (WAS) group and PRO+WAS group. Ten mice were assigned to each group: five for cystometrography (CMG) and five for von Frey testing and histological analysis. PRO was induced through a prostatic injection of 10% paraformaldehyde (PFA). The WAS mice were placed on the middle platform for 1 hour per day for ten consecutive days.
Interpretation of results
In the current study, we first established a refined murine model combining chemically induced prostatitis with psychological stress, and the model mice presented significant overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and pelvic pain. In addition, the WAS+PRO model mice showed more severe prostatic inflammation than the PRO model mice and the WAS model mice, suggesting that WAS could aggravate prostatic inflammation and related symptoms. These results demonstrate that our innovative model can simulate the clinical situation well and is expected to be a reliable tool for basic research on chronic prostatitis.