2005 Ohio Student Research Forum

Abstract

Instilling Chemopreventive Compounds into the Mouse Bladder via Urethral Catherterization
Alexander Senk
Ohio State University, Department of Medical Technology
Mentor(s): Dr. Russell Klein and Robert Rengel

The overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in bladder cancer in humans has been associated with the reoccurrence and metastasis of bladder cancer. Similarly, research has shown that in mice the overexpression of COX-2 in bladder tissue can cause bladder cancer to occur. We investigated if it is feasible to develop an efficient and reproducible method of instilling a chemopreventative compound, Celecoxib, directly to the tissue lining the interior of the bladder via urethral catheterization of mature female mice. Celecoxib is a COX-2 inhibitor, which could competitively inhibit COX-2 and possibly prevent bladder cancer proliferation. The purpose of direct administration of Celecoxib is to potentially avoid the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and intestinal bleeding associated with oral administration. Since mouse catheterization had not previously been accomplished in our laboratory, we had to establish the protocol for the procedure and to determine the best suited materials for the catheterization. After several catheterization attempts, we optimized the catheterization approach and the preparation of materials to minimize trauma exerted on the urethral and bladder tissues and to improve reproducibility. Minimal trauma is vital to ensure the capability of reviving the mice in later studies. Future directions of this experiment include attempting to instill a dye in the mouse bladder for 3 hours. If the bladder is able to retain the dye without leakage, we will design a time course study and replicate the experiment using Celecoxib then revive the mice. Tissue samples will be collected according to the time course table and analyzed for COX-2 inhibitor levels via a reference lab. The data collected will be used to determine the efficiency of absorbance and extent of time that Celecoxib remains in tissue.