Objective: To investigate the expression of two isoforms of Rho-kinase (ROCK) and its functional role in the pathophysiological control of smooth muscle contraction in rabbits with unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO).
Material and methods: Left UUO was created in 14 rabbits and eight other rabbits (controls) had sham operations. After 2 weeks all the rabbits were killed. Ureteric strips suspended in an organ bath were used for functional studies and the effects of Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of Rho-kinase, on spontaneous contractions and electrical field stimulation (EFS; 50 V, 1 ms, 16 Hz, for 20 s), carbachol- (10(-7)-10(-4)m), phenylephrine- (10(-7)-10(-4)m) and KCl- (50 mm) induced contractions were analysed. Western blotting was used to determine expression levels of Rho-kinase protein in the ureters of UUO and control rabbits.
Results: In the functional analysis, the contractions induced by EFS, KCl, phenylephrine and carbachol in the ureteric strips from rabbits with UUO were significantly greater than those from the control rabbits. Y-27632 considerably suppressed the ureter contractile responses in both UUO and control rabbits. Western blot analysis showed that both ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 proteins were expressed in the rabbit ureter. In accordance with the functional studies, the expression levels of both ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 were significantly greater in the ureters of UUO rabbits than in the controls.
Conclusions: Y-27632 suppressed ureteric contractions in the rabbits with UUO. Western blot analysis also confirmed greater expression levels of ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 in the ureters of UUO rabbits. It is important to elucidate by which mechanisms the Rho-kinase pathway affects ureteric function after obstruction.