CURATIVE EFFECT OF CURCUMIN NANOPARTICLES AGAINST OVERACTIVE BLADDER IN OVARIECTOMIZED ALBINO RAT (HISTOLOGICAL STUDY)

Introduction: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent urological condition characterized by urinary urgency, frequently accompanied by urge incontinence, increased frequency, and nocturia. Recent studies increasingly recognized as having an inflammatory component. Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric), has been extensively investigated for its broad pharmacological properties, including potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. These attributes suggest that curcumin, particularly in its nano-formulation to enhance bioavailability, could offer therapeutic benefits in OAB management. Methods: In this experimental study, 30 adult female rats were allocated into five groups, including a sham operation control group. A postmenopausal model was induced in 24 rats by bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). Following an eight-week recovery period to allow for hormonal depletion, the animals were assigned to four treatment subgroups for two weeks of intraperitoneal injections: saline, oil (1 mg/kg), flavoxate (dose converted appropriately for rats), and curcumin nanoparticles (30 mg/kg). Results: The OVX and oil-treated groups exhibited significantly elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nerve growth factor (NGF), along with decreased glutathione (GSH) levels. Histological assessments revealed increased collagen deposition, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and mast cell degranulation. Conversely, both curcumin nanoparticles and flavoxate treatment significantly reduced MDA, CRP, IL-6, and NGF levels while restoring GSH. Notably, nano-curcumin markedly diminished collagen fiber area, α-SMA expression, and mast cell degranulation compared with the OVX group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that curcumin nanoparticles exert strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, effectively mitigating structural and biochemical alterations associated with OAB, supporting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent.