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Nitroxergic innervation of the human ureterovesical junction
C Goessl1, Z Grozdanovic, H H Knispel
1Department of Urology, Benjamin Franklin Clinic, Free University, Berlin, Germany.
Urological Research
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the human ureterovesical junction (UVJ) suggests nitric oxide plays a key role in relaxing smooth muscle and opening the UVJ.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Neuroscience
- Histochemistry
Background:
- The human ureterovesical junction (UVJ) controls urine flow from the ureter to the bladder.
- Understanding the neural control of the UVJ is crucial for managing urinary tract disorders.
Observation:
- Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry were employed to map nitroxergic neurons in the human UVJ.
- NOS-immunoreactive neurons were identified in extramural ureterovesical ganglia, with nerve fibers extending into smooth muscle bundles and surrounding blood vessels.
Findings:
- NOS-positive nerve fibers and NADPH-d activity were observed in parallel throughout the UVJ, indicating the presence of nitroxergic pathways.
- While urothelium showed strong NADPH-d activity, it lacked NOS immunolabeling, suggesting a non-neuronal role for NADPH-d in this layer.
Implications:
- The findings indicate that nitric oxide, a smooth muscle relaxant, is a significant neurotransmitter in the human UVJ.
- This suggests a physiologic role for nitric oxide in the relaxation and opening of the human UVJ, potentially impacting bladder emptying and preventing reflux.