The Therapeutic Effect of Ginsenoside Rb1 against Mechanical Trauma in a Rat Model of Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence

Aims. The aim of this study was to confirm the repairing effect of ginsenoside Rb1 (GS-Rb1) on mechanical trauma to periurethral tissues caused by childbirth and to explore its potential preventive mechanisms for mechanical trauma-induced stress urinary incontinence. Methods. 48 healthy adult female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, SUI groups, L-GS-Rb1 groups, and H-GS-Rb1 groups, with 12 rats in each group. The histopathological examinations of the urethral were performed to detect the morphological changes after repair of periurethral traumatic tissue. The TGF-β1/Smad and NRF2/ARE signaling pathways related to periurethral tissue trauma repair were determined by RT-PCR and western blot. The bladder capacity and LPP were examined in rats. Results. GS-Rb1 significantly decreased the number of fragmented and disorganized elastic and muscle fibers in the urethra and anterior vaginal wall of SUI rats. GS-Rb1 also increased the collagen content and reduced damage to the structural integrity of the periurethral myofibers. Furthermore, GS-Rb1 promoted expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad7, p-Smad3, p-Smad2, and collagens I and III. It also increased the protein levels of Nrf2, GPX1, and MnSOD. The bladder capacity and LPP of rats in the L-GS-Rb1 group were close to those of rats in the normal groups. Conclusions. Ginsenoside Rb1 promotes the repair of periurethral tissue trauma in the postpartum period and has a preventive effect on the occurrence of stress urinary incontinence.