Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
06:36
A Decentralized (Ex Vivo) Murine Bladder Model with the Detrusor Muscle Removed for Direct Access to the Suburothelium during Bladder Filling
Published on: November 28, 2019
Neurotrophins as regulators of urinary bladder function.
Peter Ochodnicky1, Célia D Cruz, Naoki Yoshimura
1Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.ochodnicky@amc.uva.nl
Nature Reviews. Urology
|October 10, 2012
Summary
Neurotrophins, like nerve growth factor (NGF), are implicated in bladder control issues such as overactive bladder (OAB) and bladder pain syndrome (BPS). These molecules may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LUTS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Urology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Increased urinary frequency and urgency are common lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), often indicative of overactive bladder (OAB).
- These symptoms may stem from heightened sensory input within the neural micturition circuit and sensory pathway remodeling, as seen in bladder pain syndrome (BPS).
- Neurotrophins (nerve growth factor [NGF], brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], neurotrophin-3 [NT-3], and neurotrophin-4 [NT-4]) are key regulators of neural plasticity in both peripheral and central nervous systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of neurotrophins in the neural control of micturition and their involvement in OAB and BPS.
- To investigate the potential of neurotrophins as urinary biomarkers for diagnosing OAB and BPS and monitoring treatment efficacy.
- To assess nerve growth factor (NGF) as a therapeutic target for overactive bladder.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on neurotrophins and their function in the urinary system.
- Analysis of evidence linking neurotrophin activity to the pathophysiology of OAB and BPS.
- Examination of clinical data supporting NGF as a therapeutic target.
Main Results:
- Accumulating evidence suggests neurotrophins modulate neural sensory function during micturition.
- Neurotrophins are implicated in the development of OAB-related and BPS-related LUTS.
- Clinical studies provide proof-of-principle that NGF is a viable target for treating human bladder overactivity.
Conclusions:
- Neurotrophins play a significant role in the neural mechanisms underlying LUTS, including OAB and BPS.
- Urinary neurotrophin levels could potentially serve as diagnostic biomarkers and indicators of therapeutic response.
- NGF represents a promising therapeutic target for managing bladder overactivity.
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