It is suggested that ATP and purinergic P2X receptors are involved in overactive bladder. In this study, we investigated the effect of the recently developed P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptor antagonist A-317491 on cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced cystitis to determine whether a P2X receptor antagonist could be beneficial for the treatment of bladder overactivity induced by CYP. Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given 150 mg/kg CYP (i.p.). When the micturition activity was observed for 24 h in a conscious and unrestrained condition, CYP-treated rats exhibited increased urinary frequency. Two days after CYP injection, cystometry was performed in conscious rats, in which the bladder was continuously infused with saline (5 ml/h). In CYP-treated rats, non-voiding contractions were interposed between micturitions, suggestive of hyper-reflexia. Intravenous administration of A-317491 (20 or 50 mg/kg) or pyridoxal phosphate-6-azo (benzene-2,4-disulfonic acid) tetrasodium (PPADS; a nonselective purinergic receptor antagonist, 10 mg/kg) prolonged the interval of voiding contraction and reduced the non-voiding contractions. On the other hand, oxybutynin (1 mg/kg), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, did not affect the frequency of non-voiding or voiding contractions in CYP-treated rats. A-317491 at the higher dose decreased the amplitude of voiding contractions, but increased the micturition volume. The residual urine in the bladder increased after treatment with CYP; A-317491 and PPADS reduced this, whereas oxybutynin had no effect. These data suggest that A-317491 is effective at improving the signs of CYP-induced cystitis and that the P2X3 or P2X2/3 receptor pathway is involved in bladder overactivity observed during CYP-induced cystitis.