Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a therapeutic agent for interstitial cystitis with Hannah lesions, enhances urinary bladder smooth muscle contractions induced by acetylcholine

—DMSO inhibits acetylcholinesterase activities—

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka of the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, found that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a therapeutic agent for interstitial cystitis with Hannah lesions, enhanced acetylcholine-induced contractions in the rat urinary bladder smooth muscle by inhibiting the activities of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme which degrades acetylcholine. In addition, the researchers found that sulfur (S) in DMSO could play an important role in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activities. These findings may explain some of the mechanisms of ameliorative effects of DMSO on interstitial cystitis with Hannah lesions, or side effects associated with DMSO treatment. The results of this research were published in the journal “Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin” in February 2023.

Dr. Keisuke Obara

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka of the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, found that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a therapeutic agent for interstitial cystitis with Hannah lesions, enhanced acetylcholine-induced contractions in the rat urinary bladder smooth muscle by inhibiting the activities of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme which degrades acetylcholine. In addition, the researchers found that sulfur (S) in DMSO could play an important role in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activities. These findings may explain some of the mechanisms of ameliorative effects of DMSO on interstitial cystitis with Hannah lesions, or side effects associated with DMSO treatment. The results of this research were published in the journal “Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin” in February 2023.

A schematic summary of this study. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) strongly inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. This inhibition leads to suppress the degradation of acetylcholine (ACh) released from parasympathetic nerve in micturition, and thus increase the amount of ACh around urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM). The increased ACh becomes more likely to activate UBSM acetylcholine receptors, thereby enhancing UBSM contractions. DMSO also inhibits UBSM contractile intracellular signaling, but the enhancing effect on UBSM contractions through AChE inhibition is stronger than this inhibitory effect.

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