Relative efficacy of various exogenous glycosaminoglycans in providing a bladder surface permeability barrier.

Abstract

To investigate the relative efficacy of heparin (H), pentosanpolysulfate (PPS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in preventing the absorption of 14C labeled urea in protamine pretreated bladders compared with saline pretreated control bladders. Control Group - Rabbit bladders were pretreated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) followed by instillation of 14C-urea. Radioactivity was determined in blood, bladder and fluid drained from the bladder. Protamine Group - Bladders were pretreated with of PBS followed by protamine sulfate. The bladders were then treated with 14C-urea and radioactivity determined as above. GAG Groups - Bladders were pretreated with saline and protamine as described above followed by instillation of: Group 3A - HA, Group 3B - H and Group 3C - PPS. The bladders were then treated with 14C-urea and radioactivity determined as described above. Protamine treated bladders demonstrated significantly more radioligand uptake in bladder tissue compared with control bladders. There was no significant difference in radioligand uptake in bladders treated with PPS and H compared with control. While not significantly different, there was considerably more radioligand concentration in the blood of rabbits with bladders treated with protamine and protamine-HA compared with those of control rabbits and those treated with protamine-PPS and protamine-H. Exogenous GAG's are effective in providing an epithelial permeability barrier in protamine pretreated bladders. There is a difference in the relative efficacy of the various GAG's in producing this effect.