Radiation‐induced variations in urothelial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1): association with changes in urinary bladder function

Purpose: To assess the effect of single‐dose irradiation on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) expression in the urothelium of mouse urinary bladder and to correlate ICAM‐1 variations with fluctuations in storage capacity during the early and late radiation response.Materials and methods: Groups of female C3H mice were subjected to irradiation with either 20 or 0 Gy. The intensity of immunohistochemical ICAM‐1 staining in the urothelium was assessed in a semiquantitative way applying an arbitrary score (0–5). Changes in bladder storage function were assessed by transurethral cystometry.Results: For the early radiation response phase, a reduction in bladder capacity by >50%, i.e. a positive functional radiation response, was seen in 40% of the irradiated animals between days 0 and 15, and in 64% of animals during days 16–30. During the late response phase, 71% of the animals sacrificed after day 180 developed a positive functional response. Urothelial cells were found to express ICAM‐1 constitutive...