An increase of neuropeptide Y but not nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerves in the bladder neck from male patients with bladder neck dyssynergia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the distribution of neuropeptides in male patients with bladder neck dyssynergia and benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
Bladder neck tissue, obtained from male patients with bladder neck dyssynergia (BND) and control patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), was studied immunohistochemically for protein gene product 9.5 (a general neuronal marker), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, growth associated protein 43 and nitric oxide synthase.


RESULTS
In the bladder neck from control patients, the greatest density of nerves contained protein gene product 9.5, followed in decreasing order by neuropeptide Y; vasoactive intestinal polypeptide; calcitonin gene-related peptide; nitric oxide synthase; substance P and serotonin. The neuropeptides were found in the smooth muscle and were also associated with blood vessels. In patients with BND there was a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in the density of protein gene product 9.5- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerves in the smooth muscle and the base of the mucosa but not in blood vessels in the bladder neck, while the density of the other neuropeptides studied, nitric oxide synthase and serotonin did not significantly change from that of control tissue. Growth associated protein 43-immunoreactive nerves were absent from the bladder neck from both groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the increase in density of protein gene product 9.5- and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerves, part of the sympathetic contractile system of the bladder neck, may exacerbate bladder outlet obstruction and thus play a role in the pathogenesis of BND.
Crowe
R
R
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, United Kingdom.
Noble
J
J
Robson
T
T
Soediono
P
P
Milroy
E J
EJ
Burnstock
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide