The effects of cold-restraint stress on urinary bladder wall compared withinterstitial cystitis morphology

Stress is associated with many diseases of unknown aetiology. This study de monstrates the effects of cold-restraint stress on the morphology of the ur inary bladder. Additionally, it compares the results obtained with the morp hology of the interstitial cystitis. The animals were subjected to three ho urs of cold-restraint stress and then starved for 48 h. The morphology and histochemistry of the urinary bladder was investigated with light and elect ron microscopy. The proliferative activity was analysed via flow cytometry. Increased and degranulated mast cells in the mucosa, leucocyte infiltratio n in the lamina propria, vacuole formation in the urothelial cells, loose t ight junction, dilated intercellular spaces and altered proliferative activ ity were observed in the stress group when compared with the control. The i ncrease in the number of mast cells and especially degranulated mast cells and vacuole formation and the loose tight junction of the urothelium correl ated with the histopathological findings of interstitial cystitis.