Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Neurons and Glia from Adult Rat Urinary Bladder
06:18

Isolation and Culture of Primary Neurons and Glia from Adult Rat Urinary Bladder

Published on: May 23, 2020

Urinary nerve growth factor level in children with neurogenic bladder due to myelomeningocele

Agata Korzeniecka-Kozerska1, Tadeusz Porowski, Joanna Michaluk-Skutnik

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Białystok , Białystok , Poland.

Scandinavian Journal of Urology
|January 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Children with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bladder show elevated urinary nerve growth factor (NGF). This finding may help understand bladder dysfunction in this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Myelomeningocele is a common birth defect causing physical disability and neurogenic bladder.
  • Neurogenic bladder in children increases risks of urinary tract infections and kidney damage.
  • Nerve growth factor (NGF) is implicated in bladder overactivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) excretion in children with neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele.
  • To correlate urinary NGF levels with bladder function parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative study involving 28 children with myelomeningocele-related neurogenic bladder and 20 healthy controls.
  • Urinary NGF levels quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher median urinary NGF concentrations were observed in children with myelomeningocele compared to controls.
  • Urinary NGF levels positively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximum bladder capacity.
  • Urinary NGF levels negatively correlated with bladder wall compliance.

Conclusions:

  • Urinary NGF is significantly elevated in pediatric patients with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bladder.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of urinary NGF in the pathogenesis of neurogenic bladder in myelomeningocele.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
Urinary Bladder01:23

Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular sac that temporarily stores urine before it is expelled from the body. It can hold approximately 600 mL of urine prior to micturition. The bladder is retroperitoneal and located behind the pubic symphysis in the pelvic floor.
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry01:19

Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry

Uroflowmetry is a non-invasive urodynamic test designed to measure various aspects of urination, including volume, flow rate, and the time to void. This test is crucial for diagnosing and assessing conditions such as bladder outlet obstruction, bladder dysfunction, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence, and urinary tract blockages caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urethral strictures.Pre-Test Instructions:Before a uroflowmetry test, patients are typically advised to drink...
Nursing Assessment of the Genitourinary System I: Health History01:21

Nursing Assessment of the Genitourinary System I: Health History

The genitourinary system is critical to maintaining fluid balance, waste elimination, and reproductive function. Nurses play a vital role in assessing this system, beginning with a thorough health history. This process involves gathering patient information, identifying risk factors, and recognizing symptoms of genitourinary disorders. Early detection is vital for timely interventions and management.1. Gathering Patient InformationA complete health history includes the patient’s personal,...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra01:19

Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra

The lower urinary system consists of the urinary bladder and urethra, which are essential in storing and expelling urine from the body. Together with the internal and external sphincters, these structures work together to regulate urination effectively.Anatomy of the BladderThe urinary bladder is a muscular, stretchable organ behind the pubic bone and in front of the rectum. In females, the bladder is positioned anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus, while in males, it is located...