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

Purpose: To investigate the relative efficacy of heparin (H), pentosanpolysulfate (PPS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in preventing the absorption of C-14 labeled urea in protamine pretreated bladders compared with saline pretreated control bladders. Materials and Methods: Control Group - Rabbit bladders were pretreated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) followed by instillation of C-14-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 C-14-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 C-14-urea and radioactivity determined as described above. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.