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Functional changes in low- and high-threshold afferents in obstruction-induced bladder overactivity.
Vladimir P Zagorodnyuk1, Lauren J Keightley1, Simon J H Brookes1
1Discipline of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia , Adelaide, South Australia.
American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology
|March 26, 2019
Summary
Bladder outlet obstruction increases sensory nerve activity, leading to overactive bladder symptoms. This study reveals how different nerve fibers in the bladder respond to obstruction, offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Urology
- Physiology
Background:
- Neural mechanisms underlying lower urinary tract symptoms in obstruction-induced bladder overactivity are not fully understood.
- Bladder outlet obstruction is a common cause of overactive bladder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of bladder outlet obstruction on different types of spinal afferents in the bladder.
- To elucidate the neural mechanisms contributing to overactive bladder symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a gradual bladder outlet obstruction model in male guinea pigs.
- Assessed conscious voiding and recorded micturition in vivo.
- Performed ex vivo single unit extracellular recordings from spinal afferent nerves.
Main Results:
- Obstructed bladders exhibited increased conscious voiding frequency and nonvoiding contractions.
- Low-threshold bladder afferents showed increased spontaneous firing but reduced stretch-induced firing.
- High-threshold afferents displayed significantly increased spontaneous and stretch-induced firing.
- The proportion of capsaicin-sensitive low-threshold afferents increased.
Conclusions:
- Bladder outlet obstruction enhances sensory signaling during bladder filling.
- This is mediated by low-threshold afferents activated by nonvoiding contractions and increased high-threshold afferent activity.
- Findings highlight complex afferent changes for therapeutic targeting in overactive bladder.
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