[High fat diet-induced molecular and physiological dysfunction of the urinary bladder].

BACKGROUND: Obesity with its multiple comorbidities has become a global pandemia. We here report on the pathophysiological aspects of obesity-associated urinary bladder dysfunctions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our results are based on multiple in vitro and in vivo studies including a high fat diet (HFD) rat animal model of which the details are given in the cited publications.

RESULTS: In cultured human detrusor muscle cells, obesity-related pathophysiological mechanisms were directly induced by the saturated free fatty acid palmitate. In HFD animals, we found serious fibrosis of the bladder wall and downregulation of the muscarinic M3-receptor leading to diminished contractility of the urinary bladder. Bariatric surgical intervention (sleeve gastrectomy) reversed the fibrosis.

CONCLUSION: Our results support the relevance of obesity for urological bladder dysfunction. The epidemic dimension of obesity with its steadily growing number of cases requires a re-evaluation of this pathological condition in the urological context.