title: Highlights in basic autonomic neuroscience: contribution of the urothelium to sensory mechanisms in the urinary bladder.
abstract: Urothelial cells in the urinary bladder express neural properties including: (1) release of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, (2) expression of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, and (3) sensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli. These properties have focused attention on the possible contribution of the urothelium to the storage and emptying functions of the bladder. In addition chemicals released from urothelial cells can affect the excitability of adjacent afferent nerves and this interaction can be affected by pathological conditions. This raises the possibility that abnormal urothelial-afferent interactions may contribute to bladder dysfunctions and therefore be a target for drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh 15261, USA. Electronic address: wcd2@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: de Groat
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003556:Cystitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000502:physiology*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000209:etiology*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*; D019459:Urothelium / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D001920:Bradykinin
keywords: ATP; Bradykinin; Nerve growth factor; Neurotoxins; Overactive bladder; Primary afferents; Transient receptor channels; Urothelium