Beta-adrenergic activity in human proximal urethra: a study with terbutaline

Beta-adrenergic activity in the proximal urethra was studied in 15 patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction owing to spinal cord injury or to neurogenic disease. Maximum urethral closure pressure was recorded before and after the administration of terbutaline, a beta-2 agonist. The average decrease in maximum urethral closure pressure after subcutaneous injection of terbutaline was 40.46 per cent and this was significant (p less than 0.001). The clinical implications of this finding are discussed.