c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) is usually member of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) family activated through phosphorylation following cytokine exposure and stress. intraperitoneally to produce acute (150 mg/kg; 4 hr) intermediate (150 mg/kg; 48 hr) and chronic (75 mg/kg; every third day for 10 days) treatments. Western blotting of urinary bladder exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increase (i.e. phosphorylation) in JNK activation with 4 hr and 48 hr CYP-induced cystitis. Immunohistochemistry and image analyses demonstrated a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increase in JNK activation in the urothelium with 4 hr and 48 hr CYP-induced cystitis. Blockade of JNK phosphorylation significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased NSC 3852 bladder capacity and intercontraction void intervals in CYP-treated rats (4 hr and 48 hr). Furthermore blockade of JNK phosphorylation reduced (p ≤ 0.01) neuropeptide (material P calcitonin gene-related peptide) expression in the urinary bladder with CYP-induced cystitis (4 hr and 48 hr). In contrast blockade of JNK phosphorylation was without effect on bladder function or neuropeptide expression in urinary bladder in control (no inflammation) rats. KRT7 Blockade of JNK phosphorylation may represent a novel target for improving urinary bladder function with CYP-induced cystitis. = 6 each) rats and control rats (= 6 each) were assessed using conscious open store cystometry with continuous instillation of intravesical saline (Schnegelsberg et al. 2010 Gonzalez et al. 2013 Merrill et al. 2013 For intravesical administration of SP600125 rats were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane and SP600125 (<1.0 ml) was injected through the bladder catheter; the animals were maintained under anesthesia to prevent expulsion of SP600125 via a voiding reflex. In this procedure SP600125 remained in the bladder for 30 min at which time the drug was drained the bladder washed with saline and animals recovered from anesthesia for 20 min before experimentation. The effectiveness of intravesical SP600125 (25 μM) administration was evaluated in control (no CYP treatment) rats and in rats treated 4 hr and 48 hr after NSC 3852 a single injection of CYP (150 mg/kg i.p.). These experiments were performed in the same CYP-treated rats before and after treatment with SP600125. The concentration (25 μM) of SP600125 used in these studies was based upon previous studies (Gao et al. 2010 Ikeda et al. 2012 Control NSC 3852 groups of CYP-treated rats receiving intravesical administration of vehicle (0.1% DMSO; Sigma-Aldrich St. Louis MO) (= 6) were also evaluated. For cystometry in conscious rats an unrestrained animal was placed in a Plexiglas cage with a wire bottom. Before the start of the recording the bladder was NSC 3852 emptied and the catheter was connected via a T-tube to a pressure transducer (Grass Model PT300 West Warwick RI) and microinjection pump (Harvard Apparatus 22 South Natick MA). A Small Animal Cystometry Lab Station (MED Associates St. Albans VT) was used for urodynamic measurements (Schnegelsberg et al. 2010 Gonzalez et al. 2013 Merrill et al. 2013 Saline answer was infused at room temperature into the bladder at a rate of 10 ml/h to elicit repetitive bladder contractions. At least four reproducible micturition cycles were recorded after the initial stabilization period of 25-30 min (Schnegelsberg et al. 2010 Gonzalez et al. 2013 Merrill et al. 2013 To summarize the experimental design involves administration of a one time intravesical infusion of SP600125 (25 μM) with cystometric data collection occurring ~75 min after infusion. The following cystometric parameters were recorded in each animal: filling pressure (pressure at the beginning of the bladder filling) threshold pressure (bladder pressure immediately prior to micturition) micturition pressure micturition interval (time between micturition events) bladder capacity void volume presence and NSC 3852 amplitude of NVCs (Schnegelsberg et al. 2010 Gonzalez et al. 2013 Merrill et al. 2013 In these rats residual volume was less than 10 μl; therefore voided volume and bladder capacity were comparable. For the present study NVCs were defined as increases in bladder pressure of at least 7 cm H2O without release of urine. At the conclusion of the experiment the animal was euthanized (4% isoflurane plus thoracotomy) the urinary bladder was harvested and randomly.