Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Primary Neurons and Glia from Adult Rat Urinary Bladder
Published on: May 23, 2020
Differences in the development of autogenous nerves between the upper and lower urinary tract
Qimin Chen1, Jinquan Cai, Chengren Shi
1Department of Urology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127;
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to observe the development and distribution of autogenous nerves in the urinary tract of New Zealand rabbits. Animals of various ages were used in this study, including 2, 3 and 3.5 weeks (gestational ages) and 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks (postnatal). Samples were selected at various sites of the urinary tract. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to investigate the nervous plexus and neuroganglia on the wall of the urinary tract. Myenteric plexuses and ganglia first appeared at the gestational age of 3 weeks. They decreased in the pelvis and ureter as the animals developed, until at the end of postnatal week 8, all nerves disappeared completely. However, nerves existed in the bladder and posterior urethra permanently. The development and distribution of myenteric nerves is different between the upper and lower part of the urinary tract. Our study aimed to investigate this further.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra
The Micturition Reflex
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...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters
Urinary Tract Infection I: Introduction
Urethra
The anatomy of the urethra differs between males and females. In females, the urethra is short, measuring about 3β4 cm in length, and opens anterior to the vaginal opening. In males, the urethra is longer and passes through the penis, serving dual purposes: expelling urine and ejaculating semen. The male urethra is...
Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology

