title: Urethral supersensitivity and occult urethral neuropathy.
abstract: The phenomenon of postural increases in urethral tone in patients with neuropathic bladder dysfunction has been investigated and, using the technique of simulated alterations in posture, a humoral response of urethral smooth muscle has been demonstrated. Serial measurements of circulating catecholamines have shown that a close correlation exists between the contraction of urethral smooth muscle and the variations in circulating catecholamines brought about as part of cardiovascular homeostasis. Identical urethral responses have been recorded in a group of neurologically intact patients who have urethral outflow obstruction, and it is speculated that these patients may have an occult urethral neuropathy.
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine