Manual acupuncture alleviates bladder dysfunction and ameliorates oxidative stress in a rat model of diabetic neurogenic bladder

Objective: To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture (MA) in a rat model of diabetic neurogenic bladder (DNB) based on protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in bladder tissue. Methods: A DNB rat model was established via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an MA group (n = 10 per group). In the MA group, MA was applied after modeling. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and bladder wet weight were measured, and urodynamics and bladder histomorphology were performed to verify whether the DNB model had been successfully established. Protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px in the bladder tissue were determined by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Results: Bladder wet weight, urodynamic parameters and bladder histomorphology in the MA group were significantly improved compared to the untreated DNB group; however, MA had no significant effect on body weight or blood glucose. In addition, protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px in the bladder tissues of rats in the MA group was significantly increased. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MA improved bladder dysfunction and that this may be related to upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, NQO1 and GSH-Px, which may reduce oxidative stress and protect bladder smooth muscle.