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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
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Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
Published on: August 18, 2014
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Therapeutic targets for overactive bladder other than smooth muscle
Martin C Michel1, Yasuhiko Igawa
1Department of Pharmacology, Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz , Germany marmiche@uni-mainz.de.
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|February 24, 2015
Summary
Urinary bladder function involves more than just smooth muscle cells. Urothelium, nerves, and blood vessels are crucial targets for understanding and treating bladder conditions.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Physiology
Background:
- Traditionally, detrusor smooth muscle cells were the primary focus for bladder function and therapeutics.
- Emerging evidence highlights the significant roles of urothelium, afferent nerves, and bladder vasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the involvement of urothelium, afferent nerves, and bladder blood vessels in bladder pathophysiology.
- To explore these structures as potential therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Selective literature review.
- Discussion of the integrated roles of multiple bladder structures.
Main Results:
- Solid evidence supports multiple anatomical structures in bladder function regulation.
- These structures are viable targets for current and novel pharmacological agents.
Conclusions:
- The urinary bladder functions as a network of interacting structures, not isolated components.
- Future research should focus on integrated studies of these structures for comprehensive understanding and treatment of bladder disorders.
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