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Konkol Y, Bernoulli J, Streng T, Jääskeläinen K, Laihia J, Leino L. Intravesical treatment with cis-urocanic acid improves bladder function in rat model of acute bladder inflammation. Neurourol Urodyn. 2015 Jul 14. doi: 10.1002/nau.22818. [Epub ahead of print]

Using a rat model, researchers have determined that a substance known as cis-urocanic acid delivered intravesically (i.e. directly to the bladder via a catheter) has the potential to treat inflammatory bladder conditions. To test the potential effects of this treatment, the investigators first induced bladder irritation in female rats, then applied cis-urocanic acid twice a day for three days in a row. They found that cis-urocanic acid helped the affected bladders recover, as shown by decreased incontinence, increased voiding volume, and prolonged intervals between urinations. The investigators also treated some of the rats with hyaluronic acid, a treatment which has been tried in a variety of urologic conditions; they found the effects of hyaluronic acid were comparable to that of cis-urocanic acid in these rats. Based on these findings, the investigators suggested that cis-urocanic acid might offer a novel treatment option for a variety of inflammatory disorders of the bladder.