title: β-Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes in the Urinary Tract.
abstract: Within the urinary tract, β-adrenergic receptors (AR) are found largely on smooth muscle cells but are also present, at least in the bladder, in the urothelium and on afferent nerves. Our understanding of β-AR subtype expression and function is hampered by a lack of well-validated tools, particularly with regard to β(3)-AR. Moreover, the β-AR subtypes involved in a specific function may differ between species. In the ureter, β-AR can modulate pacemaker activity and smooth muscle tone involving multiple subtypes. In the human bladder, β-AR promote urine storage. Bladder smooth muscle relaxation primarily involves β(3)-AR, and the agonists selective for this subtype are in clinical development to treat bladder dysfunction. While prostate and urethra also express β-AR, the overall physiological role in these tissues remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.c.michel@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014513:Ureter / Q000378:metabolism; D014521:Urethra / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta