Distribution and function of the endocannabinoid system in the rat and human bladder

Our aim was to compare expression and distribution of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1), and modulating enzymes in human and rat bladder. We also evaluated effects of cannabinoid agonists (ACEA, agonist of CB1; GP1A, agonist of CB2) on contractile responses of rat bladder strips. Distribution and expression of CB1, CB2 and TRPV1 receptors and enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) was studied using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting on human and Wistar rat bladders. The effects of cannabinoid agonists on contractile responses of isolated rat bladder strips to electrical-field stimulation (EFS) or carbachol-evoked responses were determined. Immunoreactivity for CB1 and TRPV1 receptors and FAAH and NAPE-PLD was present in the bladder of both species. CB1 proteins were of different sizes in rat (57 kDa) and human (40 kDa) bladder. CB2 (45 kDa in both species) immunolocalised to both urothelium and detrusor muscle in human bladder but only to detrusor muscle in rat. FAAH proteins were found at 55 kDa for both species. Rat NAPE-PLD protein (44 kDa) was similar in size to that in human bladder (45 kDa). TRPV1 proteins were found at 104 kDa in both species. ACEA (10(-4) M) attenuated bladder contractions by 35 +/- 5.4 % (p < 0.001); GP1a had no effect despite the EC50 values for the carbachol dose-response curves for both agonists being significantly shifted to the right. The endocannabinoid system is functionally expressed in both species, with CB1 receptors showing both pre- and postsynaptic inhibitory effects on rat bladder contraction, whereas CB2 acts only postsynaptically.