Characterization of global and region-specific transcriptomic alterations in the porcine bladder following acute partial bladder outlet obstruction

To date, the mechanisms governing pBOO-induced bladder remodeling remain poorly understood. The goals of the present study were to profile global and region-specific transcriptomes of porcine bladders in response to acute pBOO using RNA sequencing and to identify genes and pathways differentially affected in the bladder dome and trigone by obstructive injury.

Nine adult female, Yucatan mini-swine were randomized and divided into either nonsurgical controls (n=5) or those subjected to pBOO for 4 weeks (n=4). Post-pBOO swine demonstrated bladder smooth muscle hypertrophy as well as significant declines in bladder capacity (35±7% of baseline) and compliance (38±10% of baseline). The global transcriptome of obstructed bladders revealed enrichment of processes related to loss of urothelial barrier function, immune activation, cell cycle regulation, extracellular matrix organization, and signal transduction similar to human and rodent evaluations of pBOO.