UroToday.com - Domestic cats have been shown to have a syndrome called "feline interstitial cystitis" (FIC), which shares many characteristics seen in humans with IC. Bladder urothelium dysfunction is a factor contributing to IC symptomatology. The urothelium is a highly impermeable barrier that prevents toxic components in urine from crossing to muscle. It also acts as a sensory organ that responds to mechanical and chemical stimulation by releasing neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, ATP and nitric oxide. It is hypothesized that these factors can act on suburothelial afferent nerves and interstitial cells to modulate bladder activity during filling.

Ikeda and colleagues from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio note that in FIC cases, the urothelium has been shown to have decreased transepithelial resistance, and increased water and urea permeability compared to controls in response to hydrodistention…