Figure 6. Smooth muscle-specific deletion of Dicer does not increase neostigmine-induced contraction or expression of Ache in the bladder.

Panels A and B show contraction induced by the addition of the acetylcholine-esterase (Ache) inhibitor neostigmine in control and in Dicer knockout (KO) bladder strips. Force is given in mN (A) and relative to depolarization-induced contraction (B), respectively. Panel C shows the potentiation by neostigmine of twitches in response to electrical field stimulation (ΔNeo. twitch) in control and Dicer KO detrusor strips. Panels D and E show the mRNA and protein levels of Ache in control and Dicer KO bladders. Panels F and G show representative electron micrographs from sham-operated and obstructed (6 weeks) bladders. Neural varicosities are highlighted in red. Scale bars represent 1 μm. Panel H shows quantitative evaluation of synapse density in control and obstructed bladders. N = 6.