| Summary: | Ketamine abusing is associated with ulcerative cystitis, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the existence of ketamine-induced symptom in a rat model and evaluate the underlining mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen and randomly divided into 12 groups (n = 8), such as the control group, low dose of ketamine (10 mg/kg/day), middle dose of ketamine (30 mg/kg/day) and high dose of ketamine (50 mg/kg/day) groups. The experimental groups were administrated ketamine i.p. daily, whereas the control groups were administrated with saline. After 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment, the bladder tissues were collected. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and a transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were used to evaluate the bladder epithelium pathology and urothelial apoptosis, respectively. The protein expression levels of LC3, p62, Beclin1 were assessed by Western blotting. HE staining results of the experimental rats showed the bladder tissue denudation of the urothelial epithelium with edema and congestion compared with the control groups. TUNEL staining showed a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells in experimental groups than in the control groups. The protein LC3 and Beclin1 had significantly higher levels compared with control groups. The protein p62 had lower levels compared with control groups. The expression levels correlated with contraction of ketamine and treatment time. HE staining, TUNEL staining and Western blot results showed dose-dependent, time-dependent autophage in ketamine-treated rats. All the results suggested that autophagy proteins might be involved in inflammatory response in rats.
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