Aging increases the expression of vasopressin receptors in both the kidney and urinary bladder.

AIMS: The goal of this study was to determine whether aging effects the expression of V1a and V2 vasopressin receptors in the urinary bladder mucosa (UBM) and kidney. METHODS: UBM and kidneys were obtained from young (3 months-of-age) and old (25-30 months-of-age) female Fisher 344 rats. Tissue samples were analyzed by western blotting for V1a and V2 receptor expression, and rat plasma levels of vasopressin levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: V1a and V2 receptors were detected in both the UBM and kidneys. Aging significantly (P < 0.05) increased the expression of V2 receptors by 2.80 ± 0.52 and 6.52 ± 1.24-fold in the UBM and kidneys, respectively. Aging also increased V1a receptor expression in the kidneys (5.52 ± 1.05 fold; P < 0.05), but not in the UBM. To the best of our knowledge, because this is the first detection of V2 receptors in the mammalian bladder mucosa, we also probed human UBM for V2 receptors and observed high expression in human UBM. Unlike V1a and V2 receptors, aging had only a minor effect on plasma vasopressin levels (8% increase). CONCLUSIONS: V2 receptors are substantially increased in the aging UBM. The role of these receptors in UBM is as yet undefined, but given their presence and action in the kidneys, the possible effect of these receptors in free water regulation should be considered. The large age-related increase in the expression of V2 receptors in both the UBM and kidney may contribute to the effectiveness of desmopressin in age-related nocturia.