Abstract
Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the morphological and biochemical effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on
bladder injury caused by water avoidance stress (WAS) and to show its effect on the number of degranulated mast cells, which
increase after stress.
Materials and Methods: Wistar albino rats were subjected to WAS and the animals in the treatment group were injected ALA. After
the urinary bladder tissues were subjected to routine tissue processing, hematoxylin-eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff reaction
were applied to observe general morphology and acidic toluidine blue method to investigate mast cells. Biochemical assessments
of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were also obtained. Transmission electron microscope was used for the
ultrastructural, and scanning electron microscope for the topographical analyses.
Results: The experiments showed that chronic stress caused injury in the bladder, increased degranulated and total number of mast
cells and decreased GSH and increased MDA levels. ALA treatment after WAS ameliorated bladder injury in most areas, decreased
degranulated and total mast cell number and increased GSH and decreased MDA levels.
Conclusion: It was concluded that ALA can be a useful agent in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.